CCTV9英语新闻：公共哀悼沉船灾民

A mourning ceremony was held near the site where the Eastern Star cruise ship overturned Monday on the Yangtze River. At least 432 were killed in the disaster, and 10 people are still missing.

A mourning ceremony is held for 406 deceased people on the capsized ship Eastern Star at the sinking site in the Jianli section of the Yangtze River, central China's Hubei Province, June 7, 2015. (Xinhua/Bai Yu)

Remembering the lost ones in China's worst maritime disaster in seven decades, an official memorial service was held at 9 a.m. on the deck of a command ship near where the tragedy took place.

Officials from Transport Ministry, along with servicemen and armed police, observed a three-minute silence. Ships nearby sounded their sirens in mourning. 

In addition to the ceremony at the scene of the disaster, some family members of victims watched live and paid their silent tribute. Soldiers and locals who are still searching for the missing along the Yangtze River also stood in silence to honor the dead.

A mourning ceremony is held for 406 deceased people on the capsized ship Eastern Star at the sinking site in the Jianli section of the Yangtze River, central China's Hubei Province, June 7, 2015. (Xinhua/Bai Yu)

A mourning ceremony is held for 406 deceased people on the capsized ship Eastern Star at the sinking site in the Jianli section of the Yangtze River, central China's Hubei Province, June 7, 2015. (Xinhua/Bai Yu)

"Three-hundred special police forces, 400 traffic police officers and 180 fire fighters together with 2,000 armed policemen, have rushed to the site since June 2. We've also deployed dozens of life detectors and a lot of other technology to help with the search. We're also coordinating with the maritime department to tackle the crisis," said Guo Tangyin, deputy head of Department of Public Security, Hubei province.

Water traffic authorities and shipping companies have also joined the effort. The cause of the catastrophe is yet to be determined.

Eyewitnesses said the ship capsized incredibly fast, while others say it happened within minutes. The real reasons are likely to remain unknown until police finish questioning the captain.

But for family members of the victims, getting answers about what happened and laying their loved ones to rest are now their priorities during this tragic time.