5. Over 110 vessels have been deployed to rescue passengers trapped inside the sunken ship, says the Ministry of Transport. More than 180 divers are carrying out underwater search and Chinese Air Force has dispatched five helicopters, CCTV reports.

An aerial view shows the rescue scene at the overturned Eastern Star in the Yangtze River. [Cloud Vision/for China Daily]

6. A monitor camera captured the sunken Eastern Star boat sailing through rains and lightning Monday evening, 30 minutes before it capsized.

7. "We will drop anchor behind you," crew of the capsized cruise ship Eastern Star said in a radio talk to a steamboat behind it, Chutian Metropolis Daily reported Tuesday night via its Sina Weibo account, citing captain of the steamboat.

8. Water level in Yangtze River continues to fall as the Three Gorges Dam reduces its discharge, leaving more of the ship above water.