15 rescued after Yangtze sinking, over 400 missing

Rescuers save survivors at the site of the overturned passenger ship in the Jianli section of the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei province, June 2, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

JIANLI, Hubei - A total of 15 people have been rescued and five were confirmed dead after a passenger ship carrying over 450 people capsized in China's Yangtze River, said Yang Chuantang, minister of transport on Tuesday.

The ship was bound for Chongqing Municipality, southwest China, from the eastern Chinese city Nanjing. It sank after being caught in a cyclone at around 9:28 pm Monday on the Jianli section of the Yangtze River in Hubei province.

Latest statistics from the Ministry of Transport shows that there were a total of 456 people onboard, including 405 passengers, 46 crew members and five tourist guides.

Three divers found one 21-year-old man in a small compartment Tuesday afternoon, he was given diving apparatus and was able to swim out by himself. The divers said rescue efforts have been complicated by the intricate layout of the vessel, as well as strong wind and heavy rain.

Premier Li Keqiang asked the rescuers to seize every second, battle fatigue and challenge extremes.

He also asked the authorities to update media with progress reports every hour.

A maritime rescue center in Yueyang received a call from a vessel called "Tonggonghua 666", which reported seeing two people struggling in the river at 10:10 pm on Monday. The center immediately despatched a patrol boat, which pulled the two from the water at 11:51 pm.