Authorities began an investigation Saturday into a ship collision on the
Yangtze River that left six person confirmed dead and 47 passengers still
unaccounted for.
|
Rescue workers carry a shipwreck survivor on a stretcher
to a hospital in Chongqing, southwest China, Thursday, June 19,
2003. [Xinhua] |
An investigation team,
headed by Shan Chunchang, deputy director of the State Administration of Work
Safety (SAWS), has been tasked with finding the causes of the accident and
supervising salvage operations.
A passenger liner capsized on the Yangtze River on June 19 after colliding
with a freighter in a section of the river in southwestern Chongqing
Municipality.
The Yangtze River Three Gorges Shipping Co. passenger liner was sailing
downstream when it collided with a freighter heading upstream near Longqiao
town, Fuling district, at 7:55 a.m. on Thursday
Initial reports released on June 19 by local authorities showed 23 dead or
missing.
But further investigation showed six person confirmed dead, 47 others still
missing, and 12 confirmed survivors.
The passengers reportedly included students and vegetable sellers on their
way to market.
