|
|
Change Your Life! |
Ferry
disaster in China |
|
News |
|
|
June 26, 2000
BEIJING (AP) - The capsizing of a river ferry packed with farmers headed to market in southwestern China last week may have killed up to 131 people, state media said Sunday.
Of the 221 people aboard, 17 have been found dead and 90 have been rescued, the Yangcheng Evening News reported.
Rescuers continued searching the Hejiang River in Sichuan province for the 114 people still missing, the reports said.
Rescuers sought an accurate count of those aboard the boat, which reports said was registered to carry at most 101 passengers. State media had published conflicting figures and it was not known how the final count was determined.
Reports said the boat, the Rongjian, was well known for overloading and was heaving with passengers and produce when it hit a rock in early morning fog and overturned shortly after leaving the town of Rongshan.
Owner Liang Rubin, pilot Zhou Shoujin and an unidentified ticket seller were detained, newspaper reports said. Investigators blame the accident on overloading and reckless piloting, the China Youth Daily said.
In addition, the boat's owner and crew "cheated the government and falsely reported passenger numbers," the Yangcheng Evening News reported.
The disaster drew attention from top officials and Sichuan Gov. Zhang Zhongwei went to the scene to help direct relief work. While relatives mourn victims and the investigation continues, Sichuan officials are under orders to "maintain social stability," the China Youth Daily reported.
Government leaders in the nearby town of Luzhou have ordered payments of 1,000 yuan (U.S. dlrs 122) per victim to their families, with other compensation considered for "special cases," the Yangcheng Evening News said.
|