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Chinese authorities investigate ferry disaster
Thousands search for survivorsNovember 26, 1999 BEIJING (CNN) -- Authorities were trying to determine on Friday why so many people were lost when a ferry capsized off China's coast, as 10,000 Chinese soldiers and civilians continued combing the gale-lashed coast for survivors. Official Chinese media reported on Friday that 22 people had been rescued, and at least 150 people had been killed in the shipwreck. Authorities cautioned however, that there may have been several dozen more people on the boat. Many travelers, they said, boarded the ship without buying tickets. Snow, lashing winds and towering waves continued to hamper rescue efforts on Friday.
Some of the rescued people described being trapped in the ship's hold after it sank, and having to break windows to swim to safety. Others told stories of passengers jumping to their deaths into frigid waters off Yantai. "It breaks my heart to talk about this," said survivor Shen Xisheng, a middle-aged man, speaking by telephone from his hospital bed. "All those people jumping to their deaths into the water." The Dashun was carrying 262 known passengers and 40 crew when it caught fire and capsized late Wednesday. It was traveling across the Bohai Bay to the northeastern port city of Dalian when it encountered fierce weather. It went down off the coast of Yantai. Grieving relatives flocked to the offices of the state-owned ferry company in the port of Yantai in Shandong province for news of the rescue efforts. "The chance of finding more survivors is extremely low," a Yantai salvage official said. "But many families are demanding that we continue the rescue efforts. They want bodies back." Investigators were also trying to determine whether or not the ship had adequate emergency devices, and why it was out in level-10 typhoon weather.
Yanda Ferry Co, which owned and operated the 9,000-ton Dashun, is also being investigated for mismanagement. Authorities have questioned some senior officials with company. The China Daily reported the ship was carrying 336 people, including 295 passengers on the top deck of the four-deck ship. The lower three decks held cars and trucks. There were 41 crew members on board. The newspaper reported more than 150 people were confirmed dead and only 36 were known to have survived. There were no foreigners on board. The ship's second mate said the fire appeared to have been caused when a car below deck collided with an oil tank. The blaze spread to quickly for crew to contain it, he added. China's official Xinhua News Agency reported the fierce weather conditions prevented other ships from assisting the Dashun. Authorities said bodies and debris have washed ashore. Beijing Bureau Chief Rebecca MacKinnon and Reuters contributed to this report. RELATED STORIES: Scores missing in Chinese shipping disaster RELATED SITES: Xinhua News Agency
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