CHINESE VESSEL CAPSIZES WITH OVER 450 PEOPLE ON BOARD

A Chinese vessel carrying over 406 tourists, 5 travel agency employees and 47 crew members heading to Southwest China's Chongquing city from Nanjing capital east of China's Jiangsu province is reported to have capsized on Monday around 9.28pm (2.28pm UK) local time in the Jianli section of the river.

Seven people swam to shore while around 15 people have been rescued. Authorities say they have recovered 6 bodies in one of China's worst shipping disasters.
Search teams say they heard sounds of life as they banged in the upturned hull of the ship which was still visible with a hammer.
Divers have been able to rescue 3 out of 5 passengers thought to be trapped inside.
A 65 year old woman pulled out from the ship after 14 hours seems to be in good physical condition.
The ships captain and engineer are among those rescued and they say the vessel sank rapidly after being caught in the storm.
Chinese president Xi Jinping has ordered that no efforts be spared in the rescue attempt.
Rescuers continue to search the Yangtze river in what could be termed the deadliest Chinese maritime accident in 70 years.
Hope deems for most of the tourists mainly elderly people who are unaccounted for as at Wednesday.