China righted the sunken ship carrying 458 people.

Throughout last night and this morning (June 5), rescue forces in China struggled to right the tourist boat that sank on the Yangtze River in Hubei on June 1.

Local residents in Jianli participate in a candlelight vigil to pray for the victims of the shipwreck - Photo: AFP

According to AFP, this is considered a last-ditch effort to find survivors.

China Central Television showed footage of two large cranes being used to right the ship, named the Eastern Star. Large crane hooks were attached to the wreck in preparation for flipping the 76.5-meter-long vessel.

However, this is a risky undertaking as it could destabilize the shipwreck and cause it to sink further into the river.

Large cranes were prepared to right the ship on June 4th - Photo: AFP

Xinhua News Agency reported that diving, rescue, and relief experts, as well as ship design specialists, were on the scene to provide assistance.

The Chinese Ministry of Transport said that righting the ship brought it back to the surface and that subsequent work was carried out scientifically.

A spokesperson for China's Ministry of Transport said on the night of June 4th that raising and righting the ship would help search for the missing people in the shortest possible time.

The ship began to be righted this morning, June 5th - Photo: Reuters

Earlier, attempts to cut open the ship's compartments to rescue those inside were halted due to bad weather.

Heavy rains continued to hamper rescue efforts, and the murky river water made it difficult for divers to search beneath the wreck.

So far, 82 people have been confirmed dead following the disaster.

(According to TTO)