The Eastern Star is upright once again, looking almost normal
with its bottom resting on the water and its deck and cabins
clear above it.
The ship's positioning Friday was a step forward in the
dayslong nightmare playing out on a section of the Yangtze
River that flows through Hubei province. It means answers
should be easier to come by as to why the Eastern Star
capsized Monday night and what can be done to prevent
similar tragedies in the future.
It also means closure could be coming soon to hundreds of
families.
By 8 a.m. Saturday (2 p.m. West African time Friday), 331
bodies had been recovered, according to Chinese state media.
There are 111 people still unaccounted for.
Of the 456 people on board, 14 survived. But rescuers have
had no luck since Tuesday, when a 21-year-old sailor and 65-
year-old woman were plucked from the water.
Authorities say the chances of more miracles have dwindled
with each passing day. And the salvage process has begun.
That process involved huge floating cranes that set up
alongside the overturned river cruise ship, dropped cables and
hooks into the water, rolled the ship upright and raised it to
the surface. About 50 divers took part overnight Thursday by
tying slings around the 2,200-ton vessel.
State-run news agency tweeted pictures of the Eastern Star
after this happened Friday. Parts of its top level looked
smashed, but the other levels appeared largely intact. By
draining the ship, the idea is that it could again float on its
own.
CCTV News Agency
No comments:
Post a Comment