Multiple tourist boats capsized after a sudden rain and hail storm on a river in Qianxi city, China, leaving at least 10 people dead and another 70 in hospital
At least 10 people have died and 70 rushed to hospital after multiple tourist boats capsized.
More than 80 people fell into a river when strong winds hit the scenic area in China’s province of Guizhou late yesterday afternoon. The boats capsized after a sudden rain and hail storm on the upper reaches of the Wu River, a tributary of the Yangtze, China’s longest river. In one video from the scene, a man could be seen performing CPR on another person, while one of the vessels drifted upside down. Initial reports said only two tourist boats had capsized, but state media said on Monday that four boats were involved. The other two boats had no passengers, and the seven crew members were able to save themselves.
The tragedy came at the end of China’s week-long May Day holiday, a hugely busy period that sees millions of people travel across the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed there would be all-out efforts to find the missing and treat the injured.
Photographs showed a large search and rescue operation on the river late into the night.
After a series of fatal accidents in the country in recent, Xi also called for tougher safety measures at tourist attractions, large public venues and residential building, as well as better methods for handling rush of people returning at the end of major public holidays.
It comes after another accident over the weekend in the eastern city of Suzhou, which saw a sightseeing helicopter crash into a park.
One person died, and four people on board were injured.
China’s state-run media said the capsized boats in Guizhou had a maximum capacity of about 40 people each and were not overloaded.
An eyewitness told Beijing News, another state-owned outlet, that the waters were deep but that some people had managed to swim to safety.
A thick mist covered the surface of the river after the storm, which witnesses said began suddenly.
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