At least nine people are confirmed dead and one remains missing after four sightseeing boats capsized during a sudden storm in southwest China's Guizhou province, authorities said Monday. The incident, which occurred on the Wu River near Qianxi City on Sunday, threw more than 70 people into the water and prompted a large-scale emergency response.
According to state media reports, the boats were navigating a tourist route on the Wu River, a tributary of the Yangtze, when strong winds, rain, and hail suddenly struck the area. Videos shared by Chinese state outlets showed chaotic scenes as passengers were thrown overboard and at least one boat drifted upside down. In one clip, a man performed CPR on an unconscious person aboard a boat.
Local authorities initially reported that two boats capsized, but later revised the number to four. Rescuers managed to save 50 people from the water by Sunday evening. More than 60 survivors were hospitalized, and at least 14 individuals were initially reported missing. Search and rescue teams recovered additional bodies overnight, bringing the death toll to nine by Monday morning, with one person still unaccounted for.
A tour boat capsized near Liuchong River’s Dongfeng Reservoir in Qianxi, Guizhou, after heavy rain hit the area around 4pm. Around 70 people, including crew, fell into the water. Over 50 have been rescued as of 7pm, with search efforts ongoing. #Guizhou #BoatAccident pic.twitter.com/rVad1ikwTB — China Perspective (@China_Fact) May 4, 2025
The Guizhou provincial fire and rescue department deployed a force of 248 personnel, including 83 divers and 16 underwater robots. Twenty-four vessels were also mobilized to assist with the effort.
Chinese President Xi Jinping urged "all-out efforts" in the search and rescue operations, according to the official Xinhua News Agency. Xi also emphasized the need to "strengthen safety measures in tourist attractions" and other large public gathering sites. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to the scene to oversee response coordination.
The disaster has renewed scrutiny over safety protocols for water-based tourism in China. Just over two months ago, 11 people died when a passenger boat collided with an industrial vessel in central China's Hunan province, highlighting ongoing challenges in regulating busy and sometimes dangerous inland waterways.
