China ship tragedy toll above 400, relatives and workers remember dead

JIANLI, CHINA // Rescuers bowed their heads and ships’ hooters blared on Sunday in tribute to the victims of China’s worst shipping disaster, as the death toll reached 431 with 11 still missing.

The solemn ceremony was held to remember the dead after the Eastern Star cruise ship carrying 456 people capsized on Monday night on the Yangtze river in a storm.

Searchers in hooded white suits could be seen on board the Eastern Star. Others in work gear, orange safety vests and military-style fatigues formed columns on the deck of a massive floating crane, one of three deployed to raise the ship on Friday.

The event went ahead under grey and cloudy skies. There were flowers and candles but it was unclear if any relatives attended.

There were only 14 survivors out of all those aboard, who were mostly tourists over the age of 60.

Information about the sinking, and media access to the site and to relatives of passengers, has been tightly controlled. Online criticism of the search were quickly deleted.

China’s Communist rulers often try to contain anger over the official handling of disasters, fearing that it could spiral into dissent.

A petition posted by family members on the social media service WeChat has called for the death penalty for the ship’s captain – one of the few survivors of the disaster – who is in police custody.

“I wish my father and mother would come back,” said Wang Hua, who lost her father Wang Xingkui and mother Li Yulin.

“I wish the whole thing was just made up. Even now, I still can’t believe it’s true,” she added, crying helplessly into her handkerchief.

Fu Conghai, whose brother Hongsheng and nephew Jianning were on the boat, said: “We are waiting for the DNA test results, and when they have completed that and can confirm them, we can meet our loved ones,” he said, referring to the possibility of viewing the remains.

Relatives interviewed were selected by the authorities and were watched by officials during the interviews.

The death toll jumped by over 200 on Saturday after rescuers used the massive cranes to hoist the vessel out of the water the day before and began recovering bodies trapped inside.

A government spokesman has said no further survivors were expected.

* Agence France-Presse