Beijing (AsiaNews) - There is no concrete hopes of finding more survivors from the Eastern Star, the cruise ship that capsized yesterday on the Yangtze River with 456 people on board. Instead the protests (pictured) of the relatives of those who were on board are mounting against the agency that organized the cruise and against the Shanghai authorities, accused of failing to provide any information and of abandoning those desperate for any news.
There are only 14 survivors of the worst naval tragedy to take place in China for decades. Rescuers talk about "race against time" and Transport Minister Yang Chuantang has stated that " As long as there's even a little hope, we will give it 100% and will absolutely not give up ".
Meanwhile, hundreds of people have gathered at the Zhabei district Petitions office, after the authorities had told them to wait for updates. "The only news I have is from television and newspapers - said one of the relatives of the missing - and I went to the Xiehe travel office only to find the door locked and a notice saying that we should call the Hubei Office of Maritime Affairs. But that bureau can’t be reached by phone".