Four Vessel Capsized on Huachong
On the afternoon of May 4, four tourist passenger vessels capsized on the Huachong River in China’s Guizhou Province. Reports state a sudden severe thunderstorm with strong winds caused the vessels to rollover spilling some 84 passengers and crew into the water. Reports state two vessels had no passengers and seven total crew on board. These seven crew members were able to swim to safety. The other 2 vessels were loaded with passengers. Many passengers were able to swim to safety, but some became trapped in the overturned vessels. Authorities launched a search and rescue with over 500 emergency personnel to the area.
Reports state that 70 people were pulled from the water suffering from minor injuries. Those injured were taken to hospital for treatment. Operations continued into the night, but rescuers were only able to recovered those who perished in the incident. Ten bodies would be eventually recovered from the river.
Authorities state the two vessels that capsized were rated to carry 40 passengers and were not overloaded at the time of the incident. The names of the four vessels were not disclosed.
