A deadly boat collision on the Yuanshui River, located in the Hunan province of China, has led to the loss of at least 11 lives, while five individuals remain unaccounted for, as confirmed by local authorities.
The calamitous incident occurred on the morning of Tuesday, February 25, 2025, involving a small passenger ferry and an oil spill response vessel. Emergency teams initiated rescue operations immediately, continuously searching for those still missing.
The accident took place in a section of the river characterized by a water depth of nearly 197 feet and a width spanning up to 547 yards. The area’s topography is complex, with strong currents occurring near the riverbed, as stated by officials at the rescue headquarters on Friday.
The ferry was transporting local villagers across the river when it collided with the larger vessel. The collision resulted in 19 people being thrown into the water. Despite the immediate rescue efforts, several passengers could not be saved. Officials reported that 11 bodies had been recovered, three survivors were rescued and subsequently hospitalized, while the search continues for the five missing passengers. Divers have been deployed to assist in the search operations.
According to a family member who spoke to ThePaper.cn, a Shanghai-based news outlet, one survivor managed to escape the ferry by breaking a window with their foot.
The three crew members of the oil spill response vessel are currently under investigation by the police.
More than 500 rescue workers are involved in the extensive search and rescue operations. The sunken passenger ferry has been retrieved and brought to the surface, while efforts to locate the remaining passengers are ongoing, as reported by China’s state news agency, Xinhua.
Videos shared on Chinese social media depict emergency responders extracting survivors from the water and distraught families gathering near the riverbanks. A temporary crisis center has been established by authorities to offer support to the victims’ families, with local officials promising a comprehensive investigation and to hold those responsible accountable.
China has been working towards enhancing its maritime safety regulations in the aftermath of a series of fatal waterway accidents. However, incidents involving overcrowded or poorly maintained vessels continue to pose a challenge, especially in rural areas where river transportation is commonplace. In 2015, the sinking of the cruise ship Eastern Star in the Yangtze River resulted in over 400 fatalities, prompting stricter regulation of passenger ferries and commercial vessels.
The authorities have pledged to increase inspections of vessels operating on the Yuanshui River to avert similar incidents in the future. The Ministry of Transport is also set to review current safety procedures for oil spill response vessels, considering the potential risks associated with operating such ships in busy waterways.
The search for the five missing passengers persists in the difficult conditions of the Yuanshui River. Rescue teams, equipped with sonar and diving equipment, are encountering turbulent currents near the riverbed, which are impeding underwater search efforts. The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a special team to investigate the cause of the incident and to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
