At least 11 dead and 5 missing in ferry disaster in Hunan, China
At least 11 people have been killed and another 5 are missing following a collision between two vessels on the Yuanshui River in Hunan Province, China. According to Chinese state media reports, 19 passengers fell into the river after the collision, with the bodies of 11 people being recovered. The ferry wreckage was discovered a few days after the incident, and the death toll was confirmed at that time.
At least 11 dead and 5 missing in ferry disaster in Hunan, China
At least 11 dead and 5 missing in ferry disaster in Hunan, China
At least 11 people have been killed and another 5 are missing following a collision between two vessels on the Yuanshui River in Hunan Province, China. According to Chinese state media reports, 19 passengers fell into the river after the collision, with the bodies of 11 people being recovered. The ferry wreckage was discovered a few days after the incident, and the death toll was confirmed at that time.
The incident occurred around 10 a.m. local time when a smaller ferry collided with a larger vessel. The larger vessel was a specialized ship used for oil spill cleanup. As a result of the collision, 5 people remain missing, but the search efforts have been hindered by the river's turbulent currents.
A rescued passenger reported that they managed to escape by breaking one of the ferry's windows with their foot, according to Shanghai-based news platform 'The Paper.' A relative of a survivor stated that the ferry served as the main means of transportation for the villagers.
The incident took place at a point on the river where the depth is 60 meters (200 feet) and the width is about 500 meters (1,600 feet), according to China's Xinhua state news agency.
Hundreds of rescue workers managed to recover the ferry wreckage on Friday, but specialized rescue teams are still conducting underwater searches using sonar and diving equipment. Due to the powerful currents and the complex riverbed conditions, search operations remain challenging, according to officials.
China’s Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) has sent a special team to determine the cause of the incident and to take measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Meanwhile, the oil spill recovery vessel involved in the collision has been docked after the incident. Three people aboard the vessel, who were not injured, have been detained by the police for investigation.
The incident has raised widespread concern in China, with calls for immediate government action to address the situation.
