Three people have died and 14 more are missing after two sightseeing boats carrying tourists capsized in China today.
The passenger boats overturned ‘on a river in a tourist attraction’ in Qianxi city, Guizhou province, according to local media.
Sixty people have been hospitalized following the tragedy, according to local authorities.
The report did not immediately offer further details about the type of attraction or the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Rescue workers were searching for 14 people reported missing.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged ‘all-out efforts’ in the search and rescue operations and treatment of those injured, Xinhua said.
Xi also ‘underscored the importance of strengthening safety measures in tourist attractions’ and other ‘large public venues’, the agency said.
Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the scene to oversee the rescue efforts.
Three people have died and 14 more are missing after two sightseeing boats carrying tourists capsized in China today. Pictured: Rescuers carrying out search and rescue operation at the site where two passenger boats capsized in Qianxi City
Sixty people have been hospitalized following the tragedy, according to local authorities
The report did not immediately offer further details about the type of attraction or the circumstances surrounding the incident. Pictured: The search operation underway
Sunday’s incident comes just over two months after 11 people were killed in a boat collision in central China.
The accident in Hunan province occurred when a passenger boat struck an industrial vessel, throwing 19 people overboard.
Emergency workers were dispatched to the incident, which occurred at around 10am on February 28.
Three people were rescued from the water and two were found dead shortly afterwards. The three survivors were taken to hospital.
The passenger ship was recovered on February 28, when nine more victims were confirmed dead.
More than 500 rescuers were sent by the Ministry of Emergency Management (MEM) and the Ministry of Transport to the scene.
The teams used sonar and diving equipment to search the deep waters for the missing people.Â
Conditions on the river were said to be ‘complex’, with a water depth of 60 metres and strong currents near the riverbed.
Three people onboard the oil waste recovery vessel have been detained by police.
An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
