BEIJING
Rescuers searched for 22 missing people Friday after a tug boat sank on the Yangtze River in China's eastern Jiangsu Province, according to the country’s state news agency.
Three passengers have been rescued, Xinhua reported, citing local authorities as saying that 25 people had been on board the vessel when it went down in the waters of the Fubei Channel at around 3 p.m. (0700GMT) Thursday.
Four Singaporeans, an Indonesian, a Malaysian, an Indian and a Japanese national are among the missing passengers, and diplomatic staff have arrived in the area for verification efforts.
Some of those missing may be trapped in the cabin, according to rescuers, who are faced with challenging conditions such as strong currents and freezing water temperatures.
Wang Chenkai, an the interpreter for a Japanese engineer who was among the rescued, told Xinhua, "Only the two of us were in the cockpit.”
“We have just finished the host load test of the main engine of the boat, when the vessel suddenly slid over. Water immediately filled in," he added.
He explained that he had clenched onto a hydraulic pump in order to not be swept away.
A total of 23 vessels have been deployed for search operations in the area’s waters.
The boat was manufactured in October last year by Anhui Bengbu Shenzhou Machinery Co. Ltd., according to Xinhua, which reported that its producer had not reported to port authorities for a water-testing operation and a vessel cruising route.
