Sinking of Dongfang zhi Xing
{{short description|Chinese ship sunk on 1 June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox event
| title = Sinking of MV Dongfang zhi Xing
| image = {{Location map
|China Hubei#China
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|label = Sinking location
|label1={{nowrap|Sinking location}}
|lat1=29.7592181
|long1=112.9227229
}}
| caption =
| date = 1 June 2015
| time = 21:28 (UTC+8)
| place = Yangtze River, Jianli County, Hubei
| coordinates = {{coord|29.7123|N|112.9236|E|region:CN-42_type:event|display=inline,title}}{{cite web |title=长江沉船 事发3天前航道局提醒谨慎航行，航道因施工曾调整|date=5 June 2015 |publisher=The Paper |url=http://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_1338614}}
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| participants = 454{{Cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/world/asia/china-yangtze-river-ship-sinks.html | title = Few Triumphs in Frantic Hunt for 430 in Yangtze River | work = New York Times | date = 3 June 2015 | accessdate = 3 June 2015 | first1 = Edward | last1 = Wong | first2= Michael | last2 = Forsythe }}{{cite web|url=http://society.people.com.cn/n/2015/0613/c1008-27150007.html|title=Sinking of Dongfang zhi Xing: 12 rescued, 442 bodied found|publisher=People.cn|date=13 June 2015|accessdate=13 June 2015|language=Chinese}}
| outcome = Ship sank, 12 rescued
| reported deaths = 442{{cite web | url = http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/05/asia/china-yangtze-river-ship-sinking/index.html | title = 331 bodies recovered from Chinese cruise ship that capsized | publisher = CNN | date = 5 June 2015 | accessdate = 5 June 2015 | first1 = Ivan | last1 = Watson | first2 = Madison | last2= Park | first3= Greg | last3= Botelho }}{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/06/05/asia/china-yangtze-river-ship-sinking/index.html|title=Stricken Chinese cruise ship lifted from Yangtze River; hundreds of bodies recovered|publisher=CNN|date=6 June 2015|accessdate=6 June 2015}}{{cite news|title=Death toll climbs to 82 as China starts righting capsized ship|url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN0OH3LU20150605|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150605013340/http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCAKBN0OH3LU20150605|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 June 2015|accessdate=4 June 2015|publisher=Reuters|date=4 June 2015}}
| blank1_label = Survivors
| blank1_data = 12
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MV Dongfang zhi Xing ({{zh|s=东方之星|p=Dōngfāng zhī Xīng}}; translated as Oriental Star or Eastern Star) was a river cruise ship that operated in the Three Gorges region of inland China. On the night of 1 June 2015, the ship was traveling on the Yangtze River when it capsized during a thunderstorm in Jianli, Hubei Province with 454 people on board. On 13 June, 442 deaths were confirmed, with 12 survivors (including two rescued by officials). The passengers were mostly in their 60s and 70s, and mostly from Nanjing, where the ship started its cruise.
The final investigation concluded the ship navigated into a squall line (the biggest scale of thunderstorm) from 21:19 onwards, blasted by a downburst (a form of windshear) from 21:26 to 21:32, capsized at 21:31, and sank at 21:32. The ship met gusts of 32–38 m/s (72-85 mph, equivalent to wind force scale of 12-13). The hourly rain was observed at 94.4mm.{{cite news|title="东方之星"号客轮翻沉事件调查报告公布（全文）|author=國務院「東方之星」號客輪翻沉事件調查組—|date=2015-12-30|publisher=财新网轉載国家安监总局网|url=http://china.caixin.com/2015-12-30/100894532.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411182759/http://china.caixin.com/2015-12-30/100894532.html|archive-date=2020-04-11}}
It is the deadliest peacetime maritime disaster in China's history, and the worst maritime disaster (including wartime disasters) in China's history since the steamer {{ship||Taiping|steamer|2}} sank in January 1949, killing more than 1,500.{{cite web|last1=Kuo|first1=Lily|title=With over 440 expected dead, the Yangtze river cruise sinking is China's worst boating disaster|url=http://qz.com/420756/with-over-440-expected-dead-the-yangtze-river-cruise-sinking-is-chinas-worst-maritime-disaster/|publisher=Quartz|date=5 June 2015|accessdate=7 June 2015}}
Sinking
Around 21:28 on 1 June 2015, Dongfang zhi Xing was making a {{convert|1,500|km|abbr=on}} trip from Nanjing to Chongqing on the Yangtze River. When the ship was near Jingzhou, it was caught in a storm and sank in approximately {{convert|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} deep waters. The captain and the chief engineer said that the ship was hit by a tornado, and the China Meteorological Administration confirmed that a tornado occurred in Jianli County with wind-speeds reaching EF1 strength, or approximately {{convert|138|-|177|kph|mph|abbr=on}}.{{cite news|title=Tornado caused Chinese cruise ship to capsize|url=http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2015/06/03/tornado-caused-chinese-cruise-ship-to-capsize/28425873/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150606090455/http://www.wtsp.com/story/news/2015/06/03/tornado-caused-chinese-cruise-ship-to-capsize/28425873/|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 June 2015|accessdate=4 June 2015|work=News 10|date=3 June 2015}}{{cite news|title=Survivor: Chinese cruise ship capsized quickly during violent storm|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/02/asia/china-yangtze-river-ship-sinking/|accessdate=2 June 2015|work=CNN|date=2 June 2015}} It was once widely believed that the tornado struck the river near the ship's location, but later investigation suggested that the tornado struck a location 8 km away and did not affect the ship;{{cite news|title=长江沉船调查结果：强风加暴雨 船只一分钟倾覆|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/o/2015-12-31/doc-ifxncyar6051523.shtml|work=北京晨报|date=31 December 2015}} instead, based on Doppler radar data and other evidence, the official report found that a massive downburst in the thunderstorm, with gusts over {{convert|118|kph|abbr=on}} (12–13 on the Beaufort scale), was the likely cause of the capsizing.{{cite news|title=东方之星客轮翻沉事故调查报告(全文)|url=http://news.sina.com.cn/c/2015-12-30/181432681495.shtml?cre=newspagepc&mod=f&loc=7&r=9&rfunc=38|work=安监总局网站|date=30 December 2015}}
Passengers and crew
| class="wikitable sortable floatright" style="font-size:85%; text-align:right; margin:0 0 1.5em 1.5em;"
|+ Passengers on board by region{{cite news|title=Cyclone hits Chinese cruise on Yangtze river: 400 missing – live updates|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jun/02/chinese-ferry-sinks-yangtze-river-458-people-aboard-latest-updates#block-556d14f4e4b095e09a51bde6|last1=Phipps|first1=Claire|last2=Weaver|first2=Matthew|accessdate=21 June 2015|work=The Guardian|date=3 June 2015}} |
| style="text-align:left; width:130px" | Region
! style="text-align:left;" | No. |
|---|
| style="text-align:left;" | Jiangsu
| 204 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Shanghai
| 97 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Tianjin
| 43 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Shandong
| 23 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Fujian
| 19 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Zhejiang
| 11 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Anhui
| 8 |
| class="sortbottom"
| style="text-align:left;" | Total | 405 |
Initially, the Chinese authorities reported 458 people were aboard the ship, but later reduced this figure to 456. This included 405 passengers, all of whom were Chinese and mostly elderly, 46 crew members and five tour guides. According to crew members that were rescued, the storm hit and capsized the ship quickly while most of the passengers were asleep. One rescued passenger stated that the ship had become flooded with water, and with the turbulent river conditions, capsized after experiencing a list greater than 45 degrees.{{cite web | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-ship-passengers-fate-unclear-media-clampdown-begins-1433248011 | title = China Ship Passengers' Fate Unclear; Media Clampdown Begins | first1 = Chun Han | last1 = Wong | first2 = Josh | last2= Chin | work = Wall Street Journal | date = 2 June 2015 | accessdate = 2 June 2015 }} Seven survivors were able to swim to shore and alert authorities about two and a half hours after capsizing.{{cite news|last1=Phipps|first1=Claire|last2=Weaver|first2=Matthew|title=Chinese ferry sinks in Yangtze river with 458 people aboard – latest updates|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/jun/02/chinese-ferry-sinks-yangtze-river-458-people-aboard-latest-updates#block-556d2894e4b0ced5cc617116|work=The Guardian|date=2 June 2015}} On 13 June, the Chinese authorities updated that 454, not 456, people were on board and 442 bodies had been found with 12 rescued.
=Analysis of the incident=
Severe weather reports were issued for the area, which should have subsequently been sent to all vessels on the river in the area for them to take necessary precautions. There is no confirmation that Dongfang zhi Xing had been properly notified, though at least one other vessel travelling nearby was shown to have taken precautions due to the weather warning. The ship's captain and chief engineer, two of the rescued persons, were taken into custody for questioning.{{cite news| url = http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/01/asia/china-yangtze-river-ship-sinks/index.html | title = Cruise ship sinks in China's Yangtze River with 458 aboard | work= CNN | date = 1 June 2015 | access-date = 1 June 2015 | first1 = Jethro | last1= Mullen | first2 = Steven | last2 = Jiang }}
The Chinese government censored news and discussion about this accident, while tightly controlling media coverage. The Politburo Standing Committee attempted to control public opinion about the disaster response, by issuing an order to both "understand the sorrow of the families" and "concretely preserve social stability".{{Cite news|title = Capsized Chinese ship righted: 97 bodies found, hundreds still missing|url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/05/capsized-chinese-ship-righted-97-bodies-found-hundreds-still-missing|accessdate = 21 June 2015|date = 5 June 2015|newspaper = The Guardian|agency = Associated Press}}
On 30 December 2015, the Chinese government issued the investigation report on the incident. The report said that heavy storms caused Dongfang zhi Xing to capsize; it also found that the shipping company and local authorities had flaws in their daily management and suggested that 43 people be punished accordingly.{{cite news| url =http://english.gov.cn/news/top_news/2015/12/30/content_281475263439893.htm | title = China ship disaster probe finds management flaws | work= Xinhua | date = 30 December 2015 | accessdate = 30 December 2015}}
Ship
MV Dongfang zhi Xing was constructed in February 1994. In 1997 the ship's length was extended by {{convert|11|m|ftin}}. It underwent another retrofit in 2008 that cut its capacity from 584 to 534 people.{{cite news|title=China Prepares to Right Overturned Ship in Yangtze River |date=4 June 2015 |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/relatives-flock-to-scene-of-chinese-ship-disaster-1433410530}} As of 2015, the ship was {{convert|76|m|ftin}} long with a beam of {{convert|14|m|ftin}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:596556/mmsi:413800469/imo:0/vessel:DONG_FANG_ZHI_XING|title=Dongfang zhi Xing|work=Marinetraffic.com|accessdate=2 June 2015}} It was owned by the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation and operated by Xiehe Travel. It made cruises in the Three Gorges area of inland China.{{cite news|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/06/438-passengers-still-missing-after-chinese-tour-boat-sinks/|title=438 Passengers Still Missing After Chinese Tour Boat Sinks|author=Shannon Tiezzi|work=The Diplomat|accessdate=2 June 2015}}
Dongfang zhi Xing, as well as other Yangtze River cruise ships, had come under increasing government scrutiny in recent years due to the growing tourist industry in China.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the second half of this sentence|date=June 2015}} In 2013, Dongfang zhi Xing and five other ships were cited for safety violations by the Nanjing maritime bureau, though the Chongqing Eastern Shipping Corporation did not comment on the nature of these infractions.{{Cite news| url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/china-ship-that-sank-was-held-for-safety-issues-1433316771 | title = Chinese Ship That Sank in Yangtze River Was Cited for Safety Issues | work = Wall Street Journal | date = 3 June 2015 | accessdate = 3 June 2015 | first1 = Laurie | last1 = Burkitt | first2= Chun Han | last2 = Wong }}
Rescue
Rescue efforts were made immediately to save the passengers and crew, reaching full scale about twelve hours after the capsizing.{{Cite web | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/02/world/asia/ship-reported-sunk-in-chinas-yangtze.html | title = Hundreds Missing After Chinese Cruise Ship Sinks on Yangtze | first = Edward | last = Yong | date = 2 June 2015 | accessdate= 2 June 2015 | work = New York Times }} Eighty-two people had been confirmed dead by 4 June, with some bodies having washed ashore {{convert|50|km|mile|abbr=on}} downstream from the wreck. Fourteen people were rescued in the immediate aftermath, including the ship's engineer and captain.{{cite news|author1=Sue-Lin Wong|title=Chinese ferry with 458 aboard sinks in storm, 20 rescued|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-ship-idUSKBN0OH3LU20150602?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews|work=Reuters|date=2 June 2015}}
According to a tweet from China Central Television (CCTV), rescuers were able to hear the sound of people trapped inside the vessel. CCTV reported that search teams heard people yelling from within the ship. One thousand police officers from the Hubei Armed Police Corps were sent to the site with 40 inflatable boats. Authorities reported that the search and rescue effort included 3,000 people and 50 boats. Crews used both underwater approaches with diving apparatus, and above-water approaches through holes cut through the inverted hull.{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-32981860 | title = China ship capsize: 'Race against time' in Yangtze rescue | work= BBC | date = 2 June 2015 | accessdate= 2 June 2015 }}
File:Princess Jeannie (ship, 1993) 001.jpg
Additional search efforts were made to locate survivors or bodies up to {{convert|220|km|miles}} downstream of the wreck.{{Cite web | url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11647654/Yangtze-boat-disaster-hopes-fade-for-hundreds-missing-after-Chinas-worst-boat-tragedy-in-decades.html | title = Yangtze boat disaster: hopes fade for hundreds missing after China's worst boat tragedy in decades | work=The Telegraph|agency= Reuters | date = 3 June 2015 | accessdate = 3 June 2015 }} The Three Gorges Dam upriver was instructed to cut water flow rates by half in order to lower the river levels for the rescue effort.{{cite news|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2015/06/03/yangtze-capsize-how-the-three-gorges-dam-is-helping-rescuers/|title=Yangtze Capsize: How the Three Gorges Dam Is Helping Rescuers|work=Wall Street Journal|accessdate=7 June 2015}}
On 5 June, the inverted ship was fitted with cables and nets, and the holes cut in the hull sealed, in order to right the ship and resume the search for survivors or bodies.{{cite news| url = https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33011557 | title = Yangtze disaster: Operation begins to lift Chinese ship | work= BBC | date = 4 June 2015 | accessdate = 4 June 2015 }} The search yielded only bodies. The search range was subsequently expanded to {{convert|1000|km|miles|abbr=on}} downstream on 5 June.{{Cite news| url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/07/china-ferry-disaster-search-area-is-extended-1000km-down-yangtze-river | title = China ferry disaster search area is extended 1,000km down Yangtze river | work = The Guardian | date = 6 June 2015 | accessdate = 6 June 2015 }}
The highest levels of government were involved in the search coordination. Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang ordered rescue efforts. Premier Li Keqiang, Vice Premier Ma Kai and State Councilor Yang Jing traveled to the site.{{cite news|title=President Xi urges all-out rescue efforts after ship with 458 people sinks|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-06/02/c_134289226.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602041208/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2015-06/02/c_134289226.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 June 2015|work=Xinhua|date=2 June 2015}}
Mourning
On 7 June, more than 500 rescue workers and government officials at the site mourned during a three-minute silence, after an announcement from Minister of Transport Yang Chuantang. According to Chinese tradition, the seventh day is a key occasion to mourn the passing of the dead ({{lang|zh|头七}}).{{cn|date=July 2024}}
To mourn the victims, all Chinese satellite television channels suspended entertainment programs from 7 to 8 June.{{cite web|url=http://ent.qq.com/a/20150607/001492.htm|title=网曝总局要求停播综艺 湖南江苏等证实将悼念|work=qq.com|accessdate=7 June 2015|date=6 June 2015}}
See also
- List of shipwrecks in China
- MV Teratai Prima
- {{MV|Princess of the Stars}}
{{Portal bar|China}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [http://news.ifeng.com/mainland/special/zjkljy/#_zbs_baidu_dk 图文直播：载456人客轮沉没 长江大救援！！！ (ifeng.com)]
- [http://news.163.com/special/kelun_2015/?bdsj 载458人客轮在长江湖北段倾覆 (Netease)]
- [http://live.sina.com.cn/zt/l/v/news/kelunqingfu/ 实时播报：全力搜救“东方之星” (Sina)]
- [http://news.sohu.com/s2015/dongfangzhixing/?pvid=3cda0af37565999f "东方之星"倾覆长江 上载458人 (Sohu)]
{{2015 shipwrecks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dongfang zhi Xing}}
Category:2015 disasters in China
Category:Maritime incidents in 2015
Category:Maritime incidents in China