YANGTZE RIVER MISHAP ·
Subscribers

Search for missing passengers continues as death toll rises to 18

Divers work through the night but face difficulties such as cabin doors blocked by tables and beds

Jianli, China

SCORES of divers cautiously searched a capsized ship in the Yangtze River on Wednesday for more than 400 missing people, many of them elderly, as the death toll in what could be China's worst shipping disaster in almost 70 years jumped to 18.

State television showed rescuers, some standing gingerly on the upturned hull of the Eastern Star cruise ship, working through the night. Only 14 people, including the ship's captain, have been found alive since the ship capsized in a freak tornado on Monday night with 456 on board.

Rescuers appear not to have given up hope, even though about 200 divers face difficulties such as cabin doors blocked by tables and beds. There is also the fear that...

BT is now on Telegram!

For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes