Twenty-one people were killed and 47 others are still missing
after a passenger ship capsized on the Jialing River in Sichuan
Province.
The ship overturned at 7:30 AM Monday in Peng’an County, near
Nanchong City.
The Chuanpengke 29 was carrying 132 passengers and three
crew from Shijiaba village to Jinxi town along the Jialing, a major
branch of the Yangtze River.
As it approached its destination, a sudden rapid current caused
by construction of a local hydropower station caused the boat to
capsize, throwing everyone on board into the water.
Sixty-seven people have been rescued. Two people died after
being taken to the hospital, and 24 survivors are still being
treated but are in stable condition. Nineteen bodies have been
recovered, according to Nanchong Mayor Du Guanghui.
The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but a
witness said that overloading might have been a contributing
factor. The capacity of most local passenger ships is 50 to 70
people.
Local police have detained Zhu Jixue, the ship’s owner, and
Liang Guangming, its operator. Police do not believe they are
responsible for the accident, although the question of overloading
remains.
It was the second major boat accident in less than a week.
Last Thursday, an unlicensed ferry carrying 69 passengers
capsized on the Yellow River in north China’s Shanxi
Province, killing 14 and leaving 34 missing.
Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, but chances of
finding more survivors are slim.
As millions of people prepare to travel during the National Day
“Golden Week” holiday beginning October 1, the issue of safety is
arousing concern.
The State Council Work Safety Commission emphasized in the
National Work Safety Meeting held last week in Beijing that
governments at all levels should make every effort to avoid any
major accidents.
In the first eight months of this year, 309 people were killed
or are still missing in water traffic accidents, according to Wang
Xianzheng, director of the State Administration of Work Safety.
(China Daily, Xinhua News Agency?September 28,
2004)