BEIJING (AP) – A tragic accident occurred on the Yuanshui River in southern China's Hunan province on Tuesday morning, when a small ferry was struck by a much larger oil spill cleaning vessel. The incident has resulted in the deaths of 11 individuals, while five others remain missing. The report was confirmed by China’s official news agency, Xinhua, on Friday night.
According to the details of the incident, nineteen people fell overboard during the collision. Emergency response teams managed to rescue three victims on the same day of the accident. The river, where the tragedy took place, is known for its significant depth, averaging over 60 meters (approximately 200 feet) and stretching 500 meters (around 1,600 feet) wide.
Rescue operations were ongoing as of Friday night, with teams working diligently to recover the ferry and search for the missing individuals. A relative of one of the survivors recounted that the rescued individual managed to escape the sinking ferry by breaking a window with his foot. The ferry is considered the primary means of transportation for residents of the local village, highlighting its importance in the community.
A video clip obtained by The Paper, a Shanghai-based publication, depicted the moment the oil spill cleaning vessel collided with the ferry from behind while navigating through still water. This has raised questions about the circumstances leading up to the accident.
Following the crash, the three crew members from the oil spill cleaning vessel were reported to have reached shore safely and have since come under police investigation. While they were unharmed, authorities are looking into their actions and the events that led to the tragic incident.
At present, there has been no official explanation regarding how the accident transpired, and attempts to reach local government officials for additional information on Saturday morning were met with silence. The investigation could provide crucial insights into marine safety regulations and protocols to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
