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            China Races to Locate Survivors of River Ferry Accident

   by William Ide

   Chinese authorities are racing to reach survivors still trapped beneath
   a passenger ship that capsized in the Yangtze River
   late Monday evening.  More than 450 passengers and crew were on board
   the ship when it went down.

   So far, according to state broadcaster CCTV, only 15 individuals
   recovered from the wreckage of the Oriental Star are said to have
   survived. Rescue workers are battling against swift currents and bad
   weather that is impacting work above and below water. Most of the
   passengers on board were elderly Chinese tourists.

   CCTV showed images of rescue workers tapping on the hull of the ship as
   it bobbed above the surface. The broadcaster reported workers have been
   hearing tapping sounds in response to their efforts to locate those who
   might still be alive and trapped inside.

   Shortly after noon on Tuesday, one elderly woman was pulled from the
   wreckage and was seen being helped out of the water by rescue workers.
   State media say the rescued woman is 65 years of age and that her
   condition is stable. Another was pulled out later and state media
   say divers have located another five passengers beneath the wreckage,
   saying efforts are underway to get them to safety.

   ''The ship's captain and engineer were among the first to escape the
   tragedy. Both are being held in police custody as authorities try to
   understand what happened to the ship. The Oriental Star has been in
   service for more than 20 years and is owned by the Chongqing Oriental
   Ferry Company, a state-owned enterprise that is struggling with
   mounting debt, Chinese media reports say.

   China's state media is blaming the incident on bad weather the Oriental
   Star encountered while traveling from Nanjing to Chongqing. The Xinhua
   news agency reports that both the captain and chief engineer said the
   ship was suddenly struck by a tornado and capsized.

   Chinese authorities were quick to take action, putting their emphasis
   on efforts to save possible survivors.

   President Xi Jinping has "ordered all out rescue efforts" and his right
   hand man Premier Li Keqiang traveled to the site of the accident.
   China's state-backed media has focused most of its reporting on what
   officials are doing and how a range of government resources are being
   dedicated to help save lives.

   As with most safety incidents in China, the government is likely to
   maintain a tight grip on the accident's narrative to minimize any
   criticism that could be directed toward authorities.

   Early on Tuesday, there were already reports that Chinese journalists
   were being blocked from traveling to the site of the accident.
   Journalists in China are also being told to only use images from Xinhua
   and CCTV.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/china-ship-carrying-hundreds-sinks-in
   -yangtze-river/2804062.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/china-ship-carrying-hundreds-sinks-in-yangtze-river/2804062.html