Yangtze cruise tragedy puts attention on elderly

Zhu Hongmei, 65, is saved from the water near the capsized ship Eastern Star, which overturned in the Jianli section of the Yangtze River in Hubei province, on Monday night. DING LIN / XINHUA

The fate of those missing after a cruise ship carrying 456 people capsized on Monday night in the central section of the Yangtze River has gripped the hearts of all Chinese. With rescue work underway and rescue teams searching the area, we have our fingers crossed and hope that more passengers will be found alive. So far, 14 people have been rescued and five are known to have died.

Extreme weather conditions were blamed for the accident as the ship, the Eastern Star, sank after being caught in a cyclone in Jianli county, Central China's Hubei province. The bad weather has also hampered rescue efforts.

Premier Li Keqiang is at the site to direct rescue work and handle the aftermath of the tragedy. The high-profile attention will guarantee that all resources available are mobilized and all measures possible taken to save lives and help the survivors.

The incident will once again test the country's capability to timely respond to an emergency and to efficiently coordinate the various sectors and departments involved in the rescue work. As the country is no stranger to natural disasters, we believe the rescue efforts will be conducted swiftly and efficiently.

The fact that the majority of the passengers on board the ship were tourists between 50 and 85 years old has focused attention on the safety of the elderly on sightseeing tours, as they account for a large proportion of domestic tourists.

Official statistics indicate the number of senior citizens in China passed 200million in 2013 and is expected to hit 248million by 2020.How to care for the rapidly greying population is obviously a growing challenge for the country.

Accidents involving senior citizens have been on the rise in recent years. On May 25, a deadly fire at a private rest home for elderly people in Lushan county, Henan province in Central China, left 38 people dead and six injured.

More must be done to improve the quality of care and provide tailor-made services that cater to the needs of elderly citizens, particularly when they are on tour trips.

Elderly people, along with children, are vulnerable groups that deserve special attention from society. Whether they can lead safe and comfortable lives serves as a barometer of social progress.

It is, therefore, the responsibility of the entire society to cultivate a better environment for senior citizens. Fatal accidents such as the tragedy on the Yangtze should never be allowed to happen again.