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Victims’ families bitter as China blames weather for Yangtze River ship disaster Victims’ families bitter as China blames weather for Yangtze disaster
(34 minutes later)
BEIJING – Relatives of those who died on board a cruise ship that sank on the Yangtze River expressed bitterness and dismay after the Chinese government issued an official report principally blaming bad weather for a disaster that killed 442 people.BEIJING – Relatives of those who died on board a cruise ship that sank on the Yangtze River expressed bitterness and dismay after the Chinese government issued an official report principally blaming bad weather for a disaster that killed 442 people.
Even though the government also recommended the captain and 43 other people should face punishment for their role in the sinking of the Eastern Star, relatives said the government appeared to be playing down human error in order to avoid embarrassment. Although the government also recommended that the captain and 43 other people should face punishment for their role in the sinking of the Eastern Star, relatives said the government appeared to be playing down human error in order to avoid embarrassment.
“The whole report is a lie, and they made it up to escape responsibility,” said a 63-year-old man whose wife drowned but declined to be named to avoid harassment by police. “I just feel deeply helpless. There was no transparency in the investigation.” “The whole report is a lie, and they made it up to escape responsibility,” said a 63-year-old man whose wife drowned. He declined to be named to avoid harassment by police. “I just feel deeply helpless. There was no transparency in the investigation.”
The ship’s captain was among just 12 people who survived China’s worst peacetime maritime disaster, which occurred on a June evening during a 10-day cruise on the Yangtze carrying many elderly people. The ship’s captain was among 12 people who survived China’s worst peacetime maritime disaster, which occurred on a June evening during a 10-day cruise on the Yangtze carrying many elderly people.
The Cabinet’s investigative team concluded the disaster was “caused by strong winds and heavy rains resulting from a squall line accompanied by a downburst, a very rare weather phenomenon,” the Xinhua state news agency said. The cabinet’s investigative team concluded the disaster was “caused by strong winds and heavy rains resulting from a squall line accompanied by a downburst, a very rare weather phenomenon,” the Xinhua state news agency said.
Xinhua said the investigation team “suggested” that 43 people, including local government and Communist Party officials, maritime regulators and shipping company executives, should be given administrative punishments, which could include demotions and firings. Xinhua said the investigation team “suggested” that 43 people — including local government and Communist Party officials, maritime regulators and shipping company executives — should be given administrative punishments, which could include demotions and firings.
It also recommended that Capt. Zhang Shunwen should have his captaining license revoked and his contract terminated, while legal authorities should investigate whether he should face criminal charges. It also recommended that Capt. Zhang Shunwen should have his license revoked and his contract terminated, while legal authorities should investigate whether he should face criminal charges.
[Read: Survivor recounts harrowing ordeal on board sinking China cruise ship][Read: Survivor recounts harrowing ordeal on board sinking China cruise ship]
But relatives of several victims said the report appeared to downplay or ignore the criminal responsibilities of a range of people who allowed an unsafe ship to ply the Yangtze River. But relatives of several victims said the report appeared to play down or ignore the criminal responsibilities of a range of people who allowed an unsafe ship to ply the river.
“This report has obviously played up the role of weather but hidden the responsibilities of the administration and business,” said a women who lost her mother.“This report has obviously played up the role of weather but hidden the responsibilities of the administration and business,” said a women who lost her mother.
“The real reasons for the accident were not shown until the end of the report,” she said, citing references to unsafe prior modifications to the ship, as well as a lack of maintenance, crew training, and preparation for emergencies. “Nobody has been charged with any crimes.” “The real reasons for the accident were not shown until the end of the report,” she said, citing references to unsafe modifications to the ship, as well as a lack of maintenance, crew training, and preparation for emergencies. “Nobody has been charged with any crimes.”
Victims’ relatives have long complained about a lack of information during the investigation, and about being asked to sign away their right to ask questions in return for compensation. Their efforts to find the truth have met with obstruction, harassment and surveillance, they say.Victims’ relatives have long complained about a lack of information during the investigation, and about being asked to sign away their right to ask questions in return for compensation. Their efforts to find the truth have met with obstruction, harassment and surveillance, they say.
[Read: In China disaster victims are recast as troublemakers] [Read: In China disaster, victims are recast as troublemakers]
“The investigative team has never let relatives get involved, or allow an independent investigative organization in,” the man said. “They closed the door and investigated themselves. How can we trust their report? It’s like the person who makes mistakes scrutinized himself and cleared himself.” “The investigative team has never let relatives get involved, or allow[ed] an independent investigative organization in,” the man said. “They closed the door and investigated themselves. How can we trust their report? It’s like the person who makes mistakes scrutinized himself and cleared himself.”
Capt. Zhang has been blamed by many relatives for continuing the ship’s journey during the storm when two other nearby vessels dropped anchor. Zhang has been blamed by many relatives for continuing the ship’s journey during the storm when two nearby vessels dropped anchor.
The report said the captain had tried to stabilize the ship, but the vessel was overwhelmed by the sudden burst of wind and rain, and it took just a minute or so to flip over, Xinhua said.The report said the captain had tried to stabilize the ship, but the vessel was overwhelmed by the sudden burst of wind and rain, and it took just a minute or so to flip over, Xinhua said.
But the investigation team also said the captain and his chief mates had “insufficient knowledge” about extreme weather and possible dangers, and “responded inadequately.”But the investigation team also said the captain and his chief mates had “insufficient knowledge” about extreme weather and possible dangers, and “responded inadequately.”
The Eastern Star was built in 1994 as a vessel for passenger transport, converted into a cruise ship in 1997 and reconstructed in 2008.The Eastern Star was built in 1994 as a vessel for passenger transport, converted into a cruise ship in 1997 and reconstructed in 2008.
The ship’s ability to resist strong winds decreased gradually after those projects but was still in line with official requirements, said Wu Yousheng, a shipping expert who participated in the probe, Xinhua reported. Nevertheless it was not strong enough to resist the June 1 storm, which saw winds reaching a level 12 to 13 on the Beaufort scale in a very short time and rainfall rising to 94.4 millimeters per hour. The ship’s ability to resist strong winds decreased gradually after those projects but was still in line with official requirements, said Wu Yousheng, a shipping expert who participated in the probe, Xinhua reported. Nevertheless, it was not strong enough to resist the June 1 storm, in which winds reached a level 12 to 13 on the Beaufort scale in a very short time and rainfall rose to 94.4 millimeters, or 3.71 inches, an hour.
Relatives said the ship and crew were clearly not prepared for rough weather, and should not have been on the river. Relatives said the ship and crew were clearly not prepared for rough weather and should not have been on the river.
“I felt chilled when I saw the news,” said 35-year-old Candy Tang, who lost her 6-year-old daughter. “The result is not surprising. I can do nothing about it. I’m exhausted.”“I felt chilled when I saw the news,” said 35-year-old Candy Tang, who lost her 6-year-old daughter. “The result is not surprising. I can do nothing about it. I’m exhausted.”
Xu Jing contributed to this report.Xu Jing contributed to this report.