JINAN, Shandong, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- 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, sources with
the local rescue headquarters said on Sunday.
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.