CCTV9英语新闻：Key facts on Yangtze tragedy, rescue operation

It's been almost 40 hours since Eastern Star capsized.

 

The ship left Nanjing on May 28th, heading upstream along the Yangtze River to Chongqing. 

 

It was caught in strong winds in Jianli, Hubei Province late on June 1st, Monday night. The ship sunk "within one or two minutes", at around half past nine.

 

At ten past ten, crew on another boat saw two people in the water and made an emergency call. The Yueyang maritime rescue center in neighbouring Hunan province received the call and sent a patrol boat immediately.

 

At 11:51 pm, two people were picked up by a patrol boat, including the captain, who is now being detained by police for questioning. 

 

Around Tuesday noon, a 65-year-old woman was able to swim out of the wreckage after divers gave her breathing apparatus. A 21-year-old man was found trapped in a small compartment. He was also given diving apparatus and swam out by himself at about 3 p.m. 

 

Early this morning, two more bodies were found. There are many difficulties hindering the rescue. Low visibility and continuing rain are making it hard for divers to conduct their search.

 

The ship has been carried three kilometers downstream and is now in waters with a depth of 15 meters. Large salvaging equipment is not available at the site.