- By Supratik Das
- Mon, 05 May 2025 09:31 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
At least nine people have died and one remains missing after four tourist boats capsized in southwestern China’s Guizhou province on Sunday afternoon, due to an unexpected storm yesterday afternoon, the local media reported. Authorities confirmed that 84 people were plunged into the waters when strong winds, rain, and hail capsized the boats. 74 have been rescued, and close to 500 emergency rescuers have been deployed to carry out search and rescue.
The accident took place in the middle of the five-day May Day holiday, China's high-traffic holiday season. Travelers were taking a recreational boat cruise down the scenic Wu River, a tributary to the Yangtze River, when nature became unexpectedly aggressive, with hard winds and hail lashing the region. Eyewitnesses said to local media that some passengers swam to shore as others were rescued by crews. Authorities have sent 70 people rescued in the Sunday afternoon accident to the hospital to be treated for "non-life-threatening conditions", state media said.
A tour boat capsized near Liuchong River’s Dongfeng Reservoir in Qianxi, Guizhou, after heavy rain hit the area around 4pm. Around 70 people, including crew, fell into the water. Over 50 have been rescued as of 7pm, with search efforts ongoing. #Guizhou #BoatAccident pic.twitter.com/rVad1ikwTB
— China Perspective (@China_Fact) May 4, 2025
A video released by state media showed a capsized boat and emergency rescuers performing CPR on a victim.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has instructed local officials to make an "all-out effort" to locate the missing person and give the best possible medical treatment to the injured. He also called for tighter safety measures at tourist sites and public venues to avoid such tragedies. “Do everything possible to save lives and ensure the safety of all tourists,” he stated to the local media.
The weekend crash has once again raised issues over China's tourism and transportation industries' safety standards. Efforts by the government to decrease accident fatalities over recent years notwithstanding, problems such as overloading, old ships, and subpar safety equipment are still there. President Xi Jinping's regime has continuously appealed for increased oversight and upgrading of safety facilities, especially during holidays when tourist movements hit a high peak.