The death toll from the passenger ship that capsized on the Yangtze River has climbed to 431 as of 11:00hrs on 7 June, according to data released by the authorities.
Only 14 survivors have been found so far, while another 10 remain missing, according to the rescue headquarters in Jianli, central China’s Hubei Province.
“Searching victims’ remains was the top priority, and every cabin of the ship must be combed through,” said transport minister Yang Chuantang at a meeting to discuss rescue work in Jianli.
Oil spill from Dong Fang Zhi Xing has already been cleaned up on 7 June, according to the Ministry of Transport.
A mourning ceremony was held on 7 June near the site where the ship overturned, and television stations suspended broadcasts of all shows as a mark of respect.
At present, the search and rescue is still going on. Divers will continue searching in nearby waters and local authorities will search for the victims’ remains on the waters from Jianli where the ship sank to downstream.
Local government is planning to set up a monument in the memory of the tragedy and to remind the public of the importance of navigation safety.
This post was sourced from IHS Maritime 360: View the original article here.
