The death toll from Wednesday's shipping accident off the coast of east China's Shandong Province has increased to 15, with one person still known missing, Xinhua quoted sources with the local rescue headquarters as saying today. Divers called in from the Beihai Rescue Bureau, under the Ministry of Communications, recovered five more bodies on Saturday from the same cabin where they had earlier found 10 victims. "We are sure that no more people are trapped inside the vessel. Chances of survival for the only person still missing are very slim," said an official with the rescue headquarters. The ship, carrying a cargo of flour and cement, as well as passengers, capsized around 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday when it was heading from Changdao County to Penglai City. The voyage between the two spots, both in Yantai City, eastern Shandong, usually takes about 40 minutes. The dead were all identified as residents of Penglai and Changdao. More than 400 rescuers, 11 boats and one helicopter took part in the rescue operation. Seven people, including captain Tian Deshun, were rescued on Wednesday. Tian and two other crew members were detained and questioned by police for illegally carrying passengers.
