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Chinese ship capsizes with at least 450 on board Chinese ship capsizes on Yangtze with hundreds missing
(about 1 hour later)
A cruise ship carrying more than 450 people has capsized after being caught in a storm on the Yangtze River in southern China, says state media. A cruise ship carrying more than 450 people has capsized in a storm on the Yangtze River in China's southern Hubei province, says state media.
The Xinhua news agency said rescuers had spotted the upturned boat and could hear people calling for help. Xinhua news agency said rescuers have heard calls for help from the upturned boat. At least one person is confirmed dead and hundreds are missing.
It said eight people had been rescued so far and rescue teams have been heading out in boats to save the passengers, most of them tourists. The boat reportedly did not send out an SOS signal before sinking.
Premier Li Keqiang is travelling to the scene in Hubei province. Media reports say several people who had swum to shore alerted the police with the help of fishermen.
The four-tier Dongfangzhixing - or Eastern Star - had been carrying 405 Chinese passengers, five travel agency employees and 47 crew, Xinhua said. Only about 10 people have been rescued so far, said Xinhua.
It was travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing to Chongqing in the south-west - a journey about some 1,500km (930 miles) - when it sank in the Damazhou section of the Yangtze in Jianli county. Premier Li Keqiang is travelling to the scene. He has ordered a team from the state council to lead the search and rescue operation, said Xinhua.
The water there is about 15m (50ft) deep. The four-tier Dongfangzhixing - or Eastern Star - had been carrying 405 Chinese passengers, five travel agency employees and 47 crew.
Most of those on board were tourists aged around 50 to 80 on a tour organised by a Shanghai company, the People's Daily reported.
The boat was travelling from the eastern city of Nanjing to Chongqing in the south-west - a journey of some 1,500km (930 miles) - when it sank in the Damazhou section of the Yangtze in Jianli county.
The water there is about 15m (50ft) deep. Rescue work has been hampered by strong winds and heavy rain.
The BBC's Jo Floto in Beijing said that stretch of the Yangtze is known for its beauty and attracts many Chinese retiree holidaymakers.
The captain and the chief engineer, who are among those rescued, were quoted as saying that the ship had been caught in a cyclone and sank quickly.The captain and the chief engineer, who are among those rescued, were quoted as saying that the ship had been caught in a cyclone and sank quickly.
Rescue work was being hampered by strong winds and heavy rain, the report said.
Mr Li has ordered a team from the state council to lead the search and rescue operation, Xinhua added.
Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the vessel was owned by the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation which runs tours to the scenic Three Gorges river canyon area along the Yangtze river.Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the vessel was owned by the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation which runs tours to the scenic Three Gorges river canyon area along the Yangtze river.
The BBC's Jo Floto in Beijing said that stretch of the Yangtze is known for its beauty and attracts many Chinese retiree holidaymakers.
Those on board had mostly been tourists aged around 50 to 80 on a tour organised by a Shanghai company, the People's Daily reported.
Twenty-two people died on the river in January, when a tugboat undergoing tests capsized near Zhangjiagang, in Jiangsu province.Twenty-two people died on the river in January, when a tugboat undergoing tests capsized near Zhangjiagang, in Jiangsu province.