China boat capsize: 21 dead, one missing in

Beijing, Jan 17: At least 21 people were confirmed dead and one other remained missing after a tug boat with 25 people onboard sank on the Yangtze river in China's Jiangsu province Thursday afternoon, local authorities said Saturday.

Rescuers are still searching the cockpit as well as the upper and lower reaches of the Yangtze river for the one missing, according to the Jiangsu Maritime Safety Administration (JMSD), reported Xinhua.

The boat, coded "Wanshenzhou 67", was lifted to the surface of water Saturday morning, 40 hours after it sank in Fubei channel, near Jingjiang city. Rescuers have so far saved three people.

On Saturday morning, local authorities published the names of those on board, including eight foreigners - four Singaporeans, an Indonesian, a Malaysian, an Indian and a Japanese national. All 25 aboard the boat were men, according to JMSD.

The 30-metre-long boat, with a weight of 368 tonnes, was built by Anhui Bengbu Shenzhou Machinery Co. Ltd. in October. The company did not report the vessel's route or testing plans to port authorities.

IANS