The death toll from a Chinese cruise ship which capsized during a storm in the Yangtze River jumped to 396 on Saturday, leaving fewer than 50 still missing, as the boat operator apologized and said it would cooperate with investigations. Reuters have more:
Only 14 survivors, one of them the captain, have been found after the ship carrying 456 overturned in a freak tornado on Monday night. Rescuers are searching the cabins of the four-level ship, which was righted and raised on Friday, looking for more bodies.
State television showed pictures of workers clad in protective gear and wearing masks prizing open doors with crowbars and using axes to clear away debris from the ship, which is being held up by cranes and wires attached to barges.
Jiang Zhao, general manager of the company which operated the Eastern Star, bowed in apology for the disaster during an interview with state media, saying they would “fully” cooperate with the investigation. “From the very moment this happened I have been immersed in sorrow,” Jiang told state television. Beijing has pledged there would be “no cover-up” in the probe.
