China's ministry of public security has issued an emergency response plan to deal with the accident. [Special coverage]
The ministry has been working with local public security, fire control departments and traffic police from Hubei, Hunan provinces and Chongqing municipality.
It has also sent special operation teams, including 9 forensic and DNA experts to help with the recovery efforts. Life jackets, tents and 10 search and rescue boats have also been deployed to the site.
Hubei provincial security bureau has mobilised around 1,000 police, as well as fire-fighting trucks and divers, to help speed up the recovery operation.
Chongqing municipal security bureau is currently looking into the backgrounds of the ship's crew members, as well as collecting information of passengers on board.
