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| Relatives of Yangtze Ship Passengers Seek Answers Amid Search for Survivors | Relatives of Yangtze Ship Passengers Seek Answers Amid Search for Survivors |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| SHANGHAI — The cruise along the Yangtze River was supposed to be a special one for Yang Yunlou and his wife, Chen Cailian, who were traveling with their 7-year-old granddaughter, Chenlin, visiting historic sites along a route that was carrying them west, toward the enormous Three Gorges Dam. | SHANGHAI — The cruise along the Yangtze River was supposed to be a special one for Yang Yunlou and his wife, Chen Cailian, who were traveling with their 7-year-old granddaughter, Chenlin, visiting historic sites along a route that was carrying them west, toward the enormous Three Gorges Dam. |
| The couple, both in their 60s, had paid for a first-class cabin on the huge cruise ship, the Oriental Star. At 9:05 p.m. Monday, they spoke by cellphone with relatives back home in Shanghai, and everything seemed fine. Nothing was said about the weather or the rain showers in the area. | The couple, both in their 60s, had paid for a first-class cabin on the huge cruise ship, the Oriental Star. At 9:05 p.m. Monday, they spoke by cellphone with relatives back home in Shanghai, and everything seemed fine. Nothing was said about the weather or the rain showers in the area. |
| But less than 25 minutes later, a violent storm capsized the ship. Of the 456 passengers, only 14 are believed to have survived, including the captain. One of the survivors said he swam until dawn. | But less than 25 minutes later, a violent storm capsized the ship. Of the 456 passengers, only 14 are believed to have survived, including the captain. One of the survivors said he swam until dawn. |
| On Thursday, three days after the accident, the victims’ grieving families were still searching for answers about what happened that evening; why the captain was one of the few survivors; and more grimly, when the bodies of their loved ones would be recovered from the wreckage. | On Thursday, three days after the accident, the victims’ grieving families were still searching for answers about what happened that evening; why the captain was one of the few survivors; and more grimly, when the bodies of their loved ones would be recovered from the wreckage. |
| The confirmed death toll increased to 77 on Thursday, according to China Central Television, and about 1,200 family members have arrived in Jianli County, where the accident occurred, officials said. | |
| In all, 442 people are presumed dead, including Mr. Yang, Ms. Chen and their granddaughter, one of the youngest passengers on a ship that was filled mostly with retirees in their 60s and 70s. It is one of the worst maritime accidents in Asia in decades. | In all, 442 people are presumed dead, including Mr. Yang, Ms. Chen and their granddaughter, one of the youngest passengers on a ship that was filled mostly with retirees in their 60s and 70s. It is one of the worst maritime accidents in Asia in decades. |
| “Yesterday was children’s day, and today, I have no idea whether my child is alive or not,” Tang Xia, the girl’s mother, said, sobbing Tuesday afternoon at a local government bureau where parents had gathered hoping for word about their loved ones. “I’m waiting desperately for any updates, or any official who can talk with me.” | “Yesterday was children’s day, and today, I have no idea whether my child is alive or not,” Tang Xia, the girl’s mother, said, sobbing Tuesday afternoon at a local government bureau where parents had gathered hoping for word about their loved ones. “I’m waiting desperately for any updates, or any official who can talk with me.” |
| Many families are still hoping that, by some miracle, someone will be found alive. | Many families are still hoping that, by some miracle, someone will be found alive. |
| The government has not released an official passenger list of those aboard the Oriental Star, nor has the cruise ship operator, the Chongqing Oriental Ferry Company, although various websites have published what purport to be passenger lists. | The government has not released an official passenger list of those aboard the Oriental Star, nor has the cruise ship operator, the Chongqing Oriental Ferry Company, although various websites have published what purport to be passenger lists. |
| Families have expressed anger and frustration at the slow response from the government, the ship operator and the travel agencies involved, with some of them saying they have not been formally contacted or informed about the investigation. | Families have expressed anger and frustration at the slow response from the government, the ship operator and the travel agencies involved, with some of them saying they have not been formally contacted or informed about the investigation. |
| In a sign of the high-level attention being focused on the disaster, President Xi Jinping held a meeting on Thursday of the Politburo Standing Committee, the highest echelon of political power in China, to discuss the rescue efforts. It found them satisfactory. | In a sign of the high-level attention being focused on the disaster, President Xi Jinping held a meeting on Thursday of the Politburo Standing Committee, the highest echelon of political power in China, to discuss the rescue efforts. It found them satisfactory. |
| “In handling the response to this emergency, related aspects reacted with urgency, provided orderly assistance and took efficient steps,” the committee said, according to a summary from the official Xinhua news agency. | “In handling the response to this emergency, related aspects reacted with urgency, provided orderly assistance and took efficient steps,” the committee said, according to a summary from the official Xinhua news agency. |
| The Chinese leadership ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the ship’s sinking that “didn’t let any doubtful point slip by,” Xinhua said. | The Chinese leadership ordered a detailed investigation into the cause of the ship’s sinking that “didn’t let any doubtful point slip by,” Xinhua said. |
| It also directed how grieving family members should be approached. | It also directed how grieving family members should be approached. |
| “It is extremely important to help family members deal with the aftermath,” the committee said, adding that officials should “empathize with family members’ suffering, do a good job of placating them and conscientiously maintain social stability,” according to Xinhua. | “It is extremely important to help family members deal with the aftermath,” the committee said, adding that officials should “empathize with family members’ suffering, do a good job of placating them and conscientiously maintain social stability,” according to Xinhua. |
| Many grieving families have traveled to Hubei Province in central China to watch the rescue operation or to wait for the bodies to be recovered. Others have organized support groups online and started sharing photographs of friends and family members, as well as pictures of the journey that passengers had posted online before the accident. | Many grieving families have traveled to Hubei Province in central China to watch the rescue operation or to wait for the bodies to be recovered. Others have organized support groups online and started sharing photographs of friends and family members, as well as pictures of the journey that passengers had posted online before the accident. |
| When tragedies occur in China, families often direct their anger at the government. When news of the disaster spread on Tuesday, families in Shanghai descended upon one of the travel agencies for answers. After the police directed them to a local government petition bureau, they cried, pleaded for answers and lashed out at local officials. One group tore down a government barricade. | When tragedies occur in China, families often direct their anger at the government. When news of the disaster spread on Tuesday, families in Shanghai descended upon one of the travel agencies for answers. After the police directed them to a local government petition bureau, they cried, pleaded for answers and lashed out at local officials. One group tore down a government barricade. |
| “We have a right to tell our story,” said a woman named Wang, after government officers asked her to stop giving interviews on Tuesday. “This is our freedom. We’ve lost our relatives.” | “We have a right to tell our story,” said a woman named Wang, after government officers asked her to stop giving interviews on Tuesday. “This is our freedom. We’ve lost our relatives.” |
| In Jianli County in Hubei Province, where the ship capsized, the authorities have begun lining up special coffins, decorated with flowers, in anticipation of the huge numbers of bodies that are expected to be found in the days ahead. The authorities are aware of the potential for excruciatingly grim scenes because many of the bodies may have decomposed and been disfigured by being underwater for days. | In Jianli County in Hubei Province, where the ship capsized, the authorities have begun lining up special coffins, decorated with flowers, in anticipation of the huge numbers of bodies that are expected to be found in the days ahead. The authorities are aware of the potential for excruciatingly grim scenes because many of the bodies may have decomposed and been disfigured by being underwater for days. |
| More than 1,100 responders and 100 boats were participating in rescue efforts, the Jianli County chief, Huang Zhen, told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. Local residents and hotels are providing free accommodations, and government employees are providing support for relatives of ship passengers, Mr. Huang said. | |
| Rescue workers have begun to cut holes in the hull of the ship, which is floating bottom side up, hoping to find survivors. Officials have also discussed lifting the entire boat out of the river. | |
| The Transport Ministry said an operation to right the capsized ship was to begin Thursday night, Xinhua reported. | The Transport Ministry said an operation to right the capsized ship was to begin Thursday night, Xinhua reported. |
| Many of the passengers on the Oriental Star had come from Shanghai, where they had booked the trip through a tourist agency. Chen Guiyu said three of her four sisters and two brothers-in-law had joined a large tour group for the cruise, which was to last about 10 days. | Many of the passengers on the Oriental Star had come from Shanghai, where they had booked the trip through a tourist agency. Chen Guiyu said three of her four sisters and two brothers-in-law had joined a large tour group for the cruise, which was to last about 10 days. |
| Her eldest sister, Chengying, had just celebrated her 70th birthday, and they seemed pleased with the ship’s accommodations. They even sent back photographs, which they posted on the social networking site WeChat, showing them posing at various sites and even washing clothes along the river during one of the stops. | Her eldest sister, Chengying, had just celebrated her 70th birthday, and they seemed pleased with the ship’s accommodations. They even sent back photographs, which they posted on the social networking site WeChat, showing them posing at various sites and even washing clothes along the river during one of the stops. |
| In a telephone interview on Thursday, Ms. Chen said she and other family members had boarded a train bound for Hubei Province. She said that her five family members had been confirmed dead. The last time she heard from the family was 7:53 p.m. Monday, when one of her sisters, Guiying, posted a group of photos online. | In a telephone interview on Thursday, Ms. Chen said she and other family members had boarded a train bound for Hubei Province. She said that her five family members had been confirmed dead. The last time she heard from the family was 7:53 p.m. Monday, when one of her sisters, Guiying, posted a group of photos online. |
| “I never heard there were any concerns about the weather,” Ms. Chen said. “All they told us was how luxurious the ship was, and how happy they were. My sister and I replied to them via WeChat, and said, ‘Enjoy yourself in this rare get-together.’ ” | |
| Less than two hours later, in stormy weather, they most likely perished after the Oriental Star made a sharp change of direction and then capsized in water 50 feet deep. | Less than two hours later, in stormy weather, they most likely perished after the Oriental Star made a sharp change of direction and then capsized in water 50 feet deep. |
| In Shanghai, Chen Lindi and her family were preparing to travel to Hubei Province to identify her relatives’ bodies. The government had bought six high-speed rail tickets for Ms. Chen to go and identify the bodies of her relatives — her sister and brother-in-law, Chen Cailian and Mr. Yang, and their granddaughter, Chenlin — once they are recovered. | In Shanghai, Chen Lindi and her family were preparing to travel to Hubei Province to identify her relatives’ bodies. The government had bought six high-speed rail tickets for Ms. Chen to go and identify the bodies of her relatives — her sister and brother-in-law, Chen Cailian and Mr. Yang, and their granddaughter, Chenlin — once they are recovered. |
| Chenlin loved Hello Kitty, so her mother is carrying a Hello Kitty hair clip and a princess dress. The parents are holding out hope that Chenlin and her grandparents might have survived. | Chenlin loved Hello Kitty, so her mother is carrying a Hello Kitty hair clip and a princess dress. The parents are holding out hope that Chenlin and her grandparents might have survived. |
| “She was going to perform an Indian dance, and play the guzheng,” a traditional Chinese string instrument, her aunt, Chen Lindi, said by telephone on Thursday. “She had rehearsed for the Indian dance before leaving.” | “She was going to perform an Indian dance, and play the guzheng,” a traditional Chinese string instrument, her aunt, Chen Lindi, said by telephone on Thursday. “She had rehearsed for the Indian dance before leaving.” |