China cruise ship tragedy caused by freak weather: official probe

Updated: 2015-12-30 19:46

(Xinhua)

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China cruise ship tragedy caused by freak weather: official probe

The search and rescue team right the capsized cruise ship in the Yangtze River in this June 5, 2015 file photo. It was heavy storms during freak weather that caused a cruise ship to capsize and kill 442 people, an official investigation has declared. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

BEIJING - It was heavy storms during freak weather that caused a cruise ship on the Yangtze River to capsize in June and kill 442 people, an official investigation has declared.

A State Council investigation team concluded that the incident was "an extraordinarily serious disaster" caused by strong winds and heavy rains resulting from a squall line accompanied by a downburst, a very rare weather phenomenon, according to the official statement released Wednesday.

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