Rescuers work 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/Xiao Yijiu)
Meteorologists on Tuesday confirmed that a sudden, strong and violent storm did occur at a section of China's Yangtze River where a cruise ship carrying 456 people sank on Monday night.[Special coverage]
The tornado-like wind, measuring more than 12 on the Beaufort scale, lasted about 15 to 20 minutes, and centered on the Yangtze River, when the ship was struck and capsized at around 9:28 p.m. Monday near Jianli, Hubei Province, according to experts with the China Meteorological Administration (CMA).
The experts arrived at the scene on Tuesday morning. They analyzed meteorological data and conducted on-site investigations.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, 14 people had been rescued from the capsized vessel, with five others confirmed dead, according to Yang Chuantang, minister of transport.
The ship left the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing on May 28 bound for Chongqing Municipality on the upper reaches of China's longest river.
