Global Disasters/ Significant Events – June 2, 2015

Hundreds missing as Chinese ship capsizes on Yangtze

A cruise ship carrying 458 people capsized on Jianli section of the Yangtze River in central China’s Hubei Province, teh official Xinuhua reported

The ship named Dongfangzhixing, or Eastern Star, sank after being caught in a cyclone, said the report.

“Carrying 406 passengers, five travel agency workers and 47 crew members, the ship was heading from Nanjing, capital of east China’s Jiangsu Province, for southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality.”

Officials say at least 15 people survived the disaster, including the captain and the chief engineer. Some of the survivors were found inside the ship’s submerged hull.

MERS deaths stokes fear in South Korea

An outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in South Korea has infected at least 24 people, killing two of the victims and stoking fear among Seoul residents.

MERS in China

China’s first confirmed Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) patient is currently quarantined in Guangdong province, which borders Hong Kong, said reports.

“A man from the Republic of Korea (ROK) tested positive for MERS in Guangdong last Friday. He is being treated at Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital and is still feverish,” health officials said, Xinhua reported.

Reported Cases Worldwide

About 1,200 cases of the virus have been reported worldwide with at least 481 fatalities, said the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control.