Yangtze cruise tragedy puts attention on elderly

The fate of those missing after a cruise ship carrying 456 people capsized on Monday night in the central section of the Yangtze River has gripped the hearts of all Chinese. With rescue work underway and rescue teams searching the area, we have our fingers crossed and hope that more passengers will be found alive. So far, 14 people have been rescued and five are known to have died.

Extreme weather conditions were blamed for the accident as the ship, the Eastern Star, sank after being caught in a cyclone in Jianli county, Central China's Hubei province. The bad weather has also hampered rescue efforts.

Premier Li Keqiang is at the site to direct rescue work and handle the aftermath of the tragedy. The high-profile attention will guarantee that all resources available are mobilized and all measures possible taken to save lives and help the survivors.