Three Dead, 60 Hospitalized After Two Tourist Boats Capsize in Southwest China
Qianxi City, China – May 4, 2025 – A tragic accident in southwest China’s Guizhou Province left three people dead and 60 hospitalized after two passenger boats carrying tourists capsized on the Liuchong River in Qianxi City on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2025. The disaster, which occurred during a five-day May Day holiday, also left 14 people missing, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation.
Details of the Incident
According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, the two boats, carrying approximately 70 passengers, overturned amid sudden adverse weather conditions, including rain, hail, and strong winds on the Wu River, a tributary of the Liuchong. The incident unfolded at a scenic spot popular with tourists, with eyewitnesses reporting that some passengers managed to swim to safety. Video footage captured by onlookers showed the underside of one capsized vessel, with a man performing CPR on a person lying on the boat.
Rescue efforts were swift, with 248 firefighters, 16 underwater robots, and 24 boats deployed, according to the Guizhou Provincial Fire Rescue Corps. Fifty people, including passengers and crew, were pulled to safety, but three fatalities were confirmed, and 14 remained unaccounted for as of Sunday evening. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged “all-out efforts” in the search for survivors and treatment of the injured, as reported by Xinhua.
Context and Contributing Factors
The capsizing occurred during a public holiday, a period when tourist sites across China see heavy crowds. The sudden storm likely played a critical role, with Metro News reporting that the combination of rain, hail, and strong winds overwhelmed the vessels. Unlike a 2018 incident in Guilin, where 17 died after dragon boats capsized due to a powerful river current and lack of life jackets, there has been no confirmation on whether passengers in Qianxi were wearing life vests.
This incident follows a pattern of boat accidents in China, including a 2015 Yangtze River tugboat capsizing that killed 22 and a 2019 Guizhou accident where 10 died on a self-made vessel. Authorities have not yet specified the cause of the Qianxi capsizing, but investigations are underway to determine if safety protocols, such as proper reporting to port authorities, were followed.
Public and Official Response
The accident has drawn significant attention, with posts on X reflecting concern and updates from outlets like @globaltimesnews and @ShanghaiEye. @NDTVWORLD reported the hospitalization of 60 individuals, while @PeninsulaQatar emphasized the ongoing rescue efforts. Chinese state media, including CGTN, noted the deployment of advanced rescue technology, underscoring the scale of the response.
The tragedy has reignited discussions about safety regulations for tourist boats in China, particularly during peak travel seasons. The 2018 Guilin accident led to detentions of organizers for failing to notify police, and similar scrutiny may follow in Qianxi. For now, the focus remains on locating the missing and supporting the injured, with rescue operations continuing into Monday.