A 458-passenger ship sailing the Yangtze River in China has sunk, with rescue workers trying to save those trapped inside the capsized vessel.
According to reports, the number of people left alive is still unknown, although at the time of writing five had been confirmed dead.
Reports have suggested that most people on board were elderly Chinese tourists between 50-80 years old.
Around a dozen have been picked up by rescue workers, including the ship’s captain and chief engineer, who have been detained, according to the country’s state-run news agency Xinhua.
The vessel had been travelling from Nanjing to Chongqing when it sank in Hubei province at around 9.30pm in a part of the river which is 50 feet deep.
The vessel, called The Eastern Star, is owned by the Chongqing Shipping Corp, a company which specialises in Three Gorges Yangtze River cruises for the Chinese market.
According to The Times China’s president Li Jinping has ordered a work team of the State Council, China’s cabinet, to rush to the site to lead the rescue operation.
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