Nine dead as Chinese boats capsize in storm

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers conduct a search and rescue operation at one of the two passenger boats capsized in Qianxi City. Picture: Liu Xu/Xinhua/AP

Four boats capsized in a sudden storm on a river in southwestern China, leaving nine dead and one missing, state media said on Monday.

More than 80 people fell into the Wu River when strong winds hit the scenic area in Guizhou province on Sunday afternoon, state broadcaster CCTV said.

Initial reports said two tourist boats had capsized, but CCTV and the official Xinhua News Agency said on Monday that four boats were involved.

It was not clear if any of the victims were on the other two boats.

Rescuers carrying out a search and rescue operation at the site (Liu Xu/Xinhua/AP)

The boats capsized after a sudden rain and hailstorm hit the Wu, a tributary of the Yangtze, China’s longest river. In one video shared by state media, a man could be seen performing CPR on another person, while one of the vessels drifted upside down.

Guizhou’s mountains and rivers are a major tourism draw, and many Chinese people are travelling during a five-day national holiday which was ending on Monday.

Chinese president Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to find the missing and care for the injured, Xinhua said on Sunday.

Mr Xi’s administration has pushed to reduce the death toll in China’s transportation sector, but overloading, poorly maintained vehicles and a lack of safety equipment have frustrated those efforts, particularly during major holidays.

CCTV said two of the capsized boats each had about 40 people on board and were not overloaded.

An eyewitness told state-owned Beijing News that the waters were deep, but some people had managed to swim to safety. They said the storm came suddenly and a thick mist obscured the surface of the river.