(Bloomberg) — Hundreds of passengers from a Chinese cruise ship that capsized on the Yangtze River remain unaccounted for as rescuers worked into the evening amid rain and strong winds.
Rescuers pulled three people from the ship Tuesday after cutting open part of the hull that's above water level, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. That brought the number of survivors to 15 while five others were confirmed dead, according to Xinhua. That's out of 458 mostly-elderly passengers who were aboard when the ship capsized.
"There's not a minute to lose," Premier Li Keqiang was quoted by Xinhua as saying at the accident site, where he rushed today to lead life-saving operations. "Rescuing passengers is top priority now."
The vessel capsized about 9:30 p.m. Monday after being caught in a storm as it traveled westward from the city of Nanjing to Chongqing, Xinhua cited the captain and chief engineer as saying. Both have been detained by police and are being questioned, Xinhua reported.
The incident adds to concerns about public safety in the world's most-populous nation. Last month, a fire at an elderly care facility killed 38 people. A stampede in Shanghai on New Year's Eve killed 36 and prompted a review of safety at the city's public spaces.
Rescue Operation
President Xi Jinping earlier called for all-out efforts to rescue passengers, Xinhua reported. China Central Television reported that more than 50 vessels are involved in the operations, with the state broadcaster showing footage of rescuers standing atop the capsized boat's hull using welding torches to cut through. Several divers were also on hand.
Most of the passengers were elderly, aged from 50 to 80, the Hubei Daily said. Rain is expected to continue to Wednesday, according to weather reports.
The vessel, identified as the Eastern Star, was operated by a company in Chongqing that offers leisure trips along the Yangtze and could hold up to 534 passengers, CCTV reported. The voyage was scheduled to pass through the famed Three Gorges, an area known for its scenic beauty.
Last year, South Korea was stunned when more than 300 people, mostly high-school students, died after the Sewol ferry tipped over. The captain of the vessel was sentenced to 36 years in prison for abandoning ship. Only 172 of the 476 people on board survived the sinking.
Earlier this year a vessel overturned along the Yangtze River some 200 kilometers upstream from Shanghai leaving 22 dead. That vessel was later found to have violated rules by setting off without first registering with authorities.
PICC Property and Casualty Co. said in an e-mailed statement it insured the capsized ship. The vessel was owned by the Chongqing Dongfang Lunchuan Co.
–With assistance from Qi Ding in Shanghai.
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