Ten More Bodies of Boat Tragedy in SW China RecoveredTen more bodies from the boat tragedy which occurred at the upper reaches of the Yangtze River last week were recovered Thursday, bringing the death toll to 113.Local officials said another 17 bodies are still missing. Chen Weiguo, Magistrate of Hejiang County, said the local government has arranged to provide financial assistance to an elderly woman and six orphans who lost family members in the accident. According to the compensation agreement, 80-year old Chen Yongtai and her orphaned 14-year-old grandchild Chen Tao will be supported by the village committee. The local government will give a certain sum to people who are willing to adopt the other five orphans. They are now under the care of the local civil affairs offices. The local government will try to provide the seven with proper housing, basic daily life needs, and education for the children. The passenger vessel Rong Jian, which had a maximum holding capacity of 101 people, was carrying 221 passengers June 22 when it hit a rock and sank while sailing in foggy conditions. The ferry was on a stretch of the river near Hejiang, in southwest China's Sichuan Province. |
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