Three people are dead and 14 remain missing after two sightseeing boats capsized in China’s Guizhou province, throwing nearly 70 passengers into the water during what was supposed to be a routine tourist excursion.
Quick Takes
- Two sightseeing boats capsized in Qianxi city, Guizhou province, resulting in 3 deaths with 14 people still missing
- Over 70 people were thrown into water with 60 requiring hospitalization
- Massive rescue operation includes 83 divers, 16 underwater robots, 248 rescue personnel, and 24 vessels
- Chinese President Xi Jinping called for all-out rescue efforts and improved safety measures
- Incident follows another fatal boat collision in Hunan province just two months ago that killed 11 people
Massive Rescue Operation Underway
A major rescue operation is currently in progress after two sightseeing boats capsized in China’s southwestern Guizhou province on May 4, 2025. The accident, which occurred in Qianxi city, claimed three lives with another 14 people still unaccounted for. The boats were carrying approximately 70 passengers when they overturned, casting all occupants into the water. Medical authorities have reported that 60 people required hospitalization following the incident, though specific details about their conditions have not been released.
The scale of the rescue operation highlights the severity of the disaster. Authorities have deployed 83 specialized divers, 16 underwater robots, 248 rescue personnel, and 24 vessels to search for survivors and recover the missing. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing is personally overseeing these efforts, indicating the high-level concern within the Chinese government. The incident occurred at a tourist attraction on a river, though further details about what caused the boats to capsize have not yet been disclosed to the public.
Leadership Response and Safety Concerns
Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued directives calling for comprehensive rescue measures to find the missing people and provide treatment for the injured. The President emphasized the critical need for heightened safety protocols at tourist destinations across China, particularly those involving water transportation. This disaster has prompted serious questions about the enforcement of safety regulations in China’s booming tourism industry, which has seen rapid expansion in recent years.
Three dead and 14 missing after two sightseeing boats carrying tourists capsize in China https://t.co/l6l8j8xX7S
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) May 4, 2025
The disaster in Guizhou comes just over two months after another fatal boat accident in central China’s Hunan province, establishing a troubling pattern of maritime safety failures. The Hunan incident involved a passenger boat colliding with an industrial vessel, resulting in 11 deaths. Rescue efforts in that case were complicated by challenging conditions, including deep waters and strong currents. The investigation into the Hunan crash continues, with police having detained three people from the oil waste recovery vessel involved in the collision.
Pattern of Maritime Safety Issues
This latest incident adds to growing concerns about maritime safety standards throughout China. The proximity of two major fatal accidents within just over two months suggests potential systemic issues in regulations, enforcement, or operational procedures. As China’s domestic tourism industry continues to expand, particularly in scenic areas featuring waterways and lakes, the pressure on local operators to accommodate increasing numbers of visitors may be contributing to safety shortcuts.
The Chinese authorities’ response, including the direct involvement of senior leadership, indicates recognition of the seriousness of these recurring maritime disasters. Safety advocates have long pointed to issues including overcrowding of vessels, inadequate safety equipment, insufficient crew training, and lax enforcement of existing regulations as contributing factors in similar incidents. As the search continues for the 14 missing individuals in Guizhou, attention will inevitably turn to preventing future tragedies through more stringent oversight of tourist boat operations nationwide.
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- Three dead and 14 missing after two sightseeing boats carrying tourists capsize in China
- Three dead and 14 missing after two sightseeing boats carrying tourists capsize in China
