SW China shipwreck report delayed: official

Guiping (CNS) -- The shipwreck accident which occurred in Guiping of southwest China's Guangxi on March 11 was not reported to the State Administration of Work Safety until two days later, investigators sent by the authority revealed on Thursday evening.

The overloaded vessel caused 14 deaths, of whom nine were seniors, and five children. Six others were still missing by Thursday.

Four people, including the ferry business manager, the captain and two crew, are still in custody.

Politburo member and Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang has reviewed and written instructions on the accident.

At first, the local official only reported two dead and one missing. After the inspection drew its conclusions, the Guiping government held a brief press conference on Thursday evening at around 10:40 p.m., claiming there was no delay of notification or concealment of facts.

It was not a matter of fact hiding, because the numbers of casualtys will change as search and rescue work progresses, clarified Zeng Jianqing, the administrative vice mayor of Guiping.