China riverboat tragedy toll hits 431; 11 missing

Rescuers bowed their heads and ships' hooters blared in tribute to the victims of Communist China's worst shipping disaster yesterday, as relatives of the 431 dead and 11 still missing spoke of their grief.

The solemn ceremony was held to remember the dead after the "Eastern Star" cruise ship carrying 456 people capsized late Monday on the Yangtze River in a storm.

Only 14 survivors have been confirmed out of all those aboard, who were mostly tourists aged over 60, after the ship capsized at night in Jianli country in the central province of Hubei.

In accordance with custom, relatives of the dead should mourn loved ones on the seventh day by Chinese reckoning following their death.