At least 10 people dead after tourist boats capsize in China

by Mick the Ram

At least 10 people have lost their lives and a further 70 have been taken to hospital, after strong winds caused four tourist boats to capsize in southwestern China.

The tragic incident occurred on the Wu River, a tributary of the Yangtze, China’s longest river, around Qianxi city in Guizhou, on Sunday 4 May.

In total 84 individuals fell into the water, and after an original calculation that nine persons had died, the death toll had to be revised after a tenth body was located early on Monday morning.

The capsized boats had a maximum capacity of forty and were not believed to be overloaded, although only two of the four were carrying passengers.

Of those hospitalized most are reported to have only minor injuries.

Provincial authorities dispatched around 500 emergency personnel to lead a rescue operation, including police and firefighters,who were deployed throughout the night.

Guizhou’s mountains and rivers are a major tourism draw, and many Chinese were travelling as they celebrated the back-end of their five-day May Day national holidays, which end today (5 May).

Some managed to swim to safety

The boats are understood to have capsized after a sudden rain and hail storm hit the upper reaches of the Wu River. 

An eyewitness said the waters were deep but that some people had managed to swim to safety. However, it seems that the storm had come suddenly and a thick mist obscured the surface of the river.

They also were able to confirm that some of those in the river had managed to swim to safety.

Death toll increased

Two of the boats had no passengers on board and it has been confirmed that the seven crew members were able to save themselves.

Rescue operations for those not so fortunate ran overnight and it was these emergency personnel who located a lifeless body, several hours after the initial report was given out that the total of those who died was nine and sadly that number had to be adjusted to ten.

Popular with tourists

The Wu River, which winds through Guizhou’s mountainous backdrop, is very popular as a destination for domestic tourists, especially during peak holidays. 

The country’s May Day celebrations from May 1 to May 5, saw a sharp increase in domestic travel; indeed government data cited by state media showed that many tourist destinations across China were overwhelmed by crowds.

Message from Chinese leader

Chinese leader Xi Jinping immediately urged “all-out efforts” in the search and rescue operation, before noting that other similar fatal accidents had taken place recently.

He went on to stress the importance of strengthening safety measures at tourist attractions, large public venues and residential communities, as well as for the rush of people returning at the end of major holidays.

Spate of tragic accidents in country

This latest incident comes just two months after 11 people were killed in another terrible accident, when a passenger boat struck an industrial vessel in China’s Hunan province.

Additionally, a further tragedy occurred over the weekend in the eastern city of Suzhou, after a sightseeing helicopter crashed in a newly-opened park, killing one person and injuring four others on board.