Premier Li Keqiang comes close to the ship wreck site to discuss how to rescue the passengers trapped underwater. [Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Premier Li Keqiang arrived Tuesday in Jianli of Hubei province to supervise rescue and search operation after a ship carrying 458 people capsized Monday night.

Li boarded a vessel and came close to the ship wreck site to discuss how to rescue the passengers trapped underwater.

Premier Li listens to the report of the accident on the plane flying to the site on Tuesday. [Photo provided for China Daily]

Previously Li discussed rescue measures with relevant officials on his flight to the scene. He ordered that rescue teams should have everything at their disposal after being briefed on the situation.

Rescue personnel must have access to equipment they need and onshore facilities should be immediately established to help in the search and rescue efforts, Li said and instructed that divers be deployed.

Every effort must be made to save lives, Li said, with rescue boats launched immediately and he also instructed that doctors and medical specialists get to the site as soon as possible.

Li required officials to set up headquarters in Jianli county to direct rescue efforts and publish a passenger list as soon as possible. He told officials of provinces where the tourists came from to organize teams to help families and relatives of the ferry passengers.

Li said the State Council will establish a rescue headquarters that involves the Ministry of Transport, the General Office of the State Council, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the National Tourism Administration and the Headquarters of the General Staff.

He stressed that the local government should undertake preparations to deal with the aftermath, and the Ministry of Finance should secure a rescue fund. He demanded officials conduct an investigation into the cause of the accident.