Nine people died and 70 were hospitalized after a tourist boat capsized due to strong winds in a scenic area of southwest China, according to state media on Monday. CCTV reported that the boat, carrying 84 passengers, overturned on a river in Qiannan City, Guizhou Province, on Sunday afternoon.
By Monday morning, nine people were confirmed dead, 70 were hospitalized, four were safe, and one person remained missing.
President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” in rescue and treatment operations and emphasized strengthening safety at tourist attractions and public places, as per state news agency Xinhua.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was sent to the site to oversee rescue efforts. An investigation found the boats were not overloaded, CCTV reported. This incident occurred nearly two months after another boat accident in central China’s Hunan Province, where 11 people died when a tourist boat collided with an industrial vessel.
