The plane carrying 450 people sank in China's Yangtze

BEIJING: A passenger plane carrying 450 people sank in the Yangtze River in central China, state media reported Tuesday.

In the Hubei province, sank in the river Jianli section Dongfangzhixing, or "Eastern Star" of the ship, Chongqing in the southwestern city of Nanjing was headed from the eastern city, on Monday evening, Xinhua said.

The cause of the sinking was not immediately clear, but state broadcaster CCTV it was an accident.

The eight vessels a "storm" who was caught in the captain and chief engineer, including, have been rescued.

Dishes 9:28 pm (1328 GMT), when 458 people were aboard sank in, CCTV 406 Chinese passengers, five crew members and 47 workers, including travel agency, said.

) In length, 76.5 meters long (250 feet), which measures - - is capable of carrying 534 people, and the Three Gorges Dam area trips operated a firm that was owned by CCTV, per vessel.

Xinhua relief work due to bad weather, strong winds and heavy rain was difficult. CCTV Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was on his way to the site.

Jingjiang Zhangjiagang in January from a tugboat and sank on the river between the eastern cities, including eight foreigners a total of 22 people, were killed.

January after the accident, according to the requirements of government regulations boat, without completing the required procedures properly and without reporting the condition of the ship was undergoing tests.