2nd LD: China mourns Yangtze shipwreck victims as search continues

Ship horns wailed as hundreds of people gathered in the drizzle Sunday to mourn the victims of the Eastern Star disaster.

Rescue workers and government officials at the site bowed their heads during a three-minute silence Sunday, the seventh day since the ship capsized with the loss of more than 430.

According to Chinese tradition, the seventh day is a key occasion to mourn the passing of the dead.

At around 9 a.m., following an announcement from Minister of Transport Yang Chuantang rescue workers stopped what they were doing and removed their hats to face the salvaged vessel.

They set up a table with candles and chrysanthemums on at the large crane vessel that dragged the ship from its muddy grave Thursday night. Families of the victims prayed for their loved ones on the riverbank or in their hotels.

Jianli, a once unknown county, has attracted worldwide attention. In the early morning, more than 1,500 cars with yellow ribbons began to collect families of the victims and rescue workers from hotels or the rescue site.

"We hope the dead can rest in peace and go home soon with their relatives," said Qu Zhigang, an organizer of volunteers in Jianli. Qu said psychologists are available to help the relatives at any time.

Only 14 people survived and 11 remain missing.

Hu Kaihong, deputy director of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office, told a news conference Sunday that the search is continuing and authorities are matching the DNA of the victims with blood samples provided by their relatives.

Rescuers are still searching along the Yangtze River from Jianli where the ship sank, more than 1,000 km downstream to Shanghai. Endi