A sudden weather disturbance in China’s southwestern region resulted in the overturning of four boats, leading to the unfortunate demise of 10 individuals, as per reports from Monday. The incident transpired in a well-visited tourist spot in Guizhou province, where over 80 people were tossed into a river due to the powerful winds that swept through the area late Sunday afternoon.
The boats were flipped over by an unforeseen storm of rain and hail that struck the upper parts of the Wu River, a branch of the Yangtze, China’s longest river. State media shared footage of a man performing CPR on another person, with an overturned boat floating upside down in the vicinity.
Rescue efforts were carried out in Qianxi City, Guizhou Province on Monday, May 5, 2025, in the aftermath of the tragic event. Initial reports suggested that only two tourist boats had capsized, but it was later confirmed on Monday that four boats were involved in the mishap. The other two boats were vacant, and the seven crew members on board managed to rescue themselves.
Guizhou’s mountains and rivers are a major draw for tourists, and many Chinese nationals were traveling during a five-day national holiday that ended on Monday. In reaction to the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged for thorough efforts to find the missing and provide care for the injured. Seventy people were taken to a hospital, with the majority suffering minor injuries.
President Xi stressed the importance of improved safety measures at tourist sites, large public venues, and residential communities, especially during the return of large crowds at the end of major holidays. This call to action follows a series of fatal accidents in the country.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that the capsized boats had a maximum capacity of about 40 people each and were not overloaded at the time of the incident. An eyewitness account from state-owned Beijing News indicated that the waters were deep, but some individuals managed to swim to safety. However, the sudden storm and the thick mist that followed obscured the river’s surface.