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Nine US 'duck boat' victims from the same family - governor Nine US 'duck boat' victims from the same family - governor
(about 3 hours later)
Nine of the 17 people who died when a tour boat sank in a Missouri lake were from the same family, according to the governor of Missouri.Nine of the 17 people who died when a tour boat sank in a Missouri lake were from the same family, according to the governor of Missouri.
Governor Michael Parson said that he spoke to a woman who "lost nine of the 11 members of her family".Governor Michael Parson said that he spoke to a woman who "lost nine of the 11 members of her family".
"It's difficult to find the right words to say," he said, describing the conversation to CNN."It's difficult to find the right words to say," he said, describing the conversation to CNN.
The "duck boat" was carrying 31 people when it overturned on Table Rock Lake, a popular tourist attraction.The "duck boat" was carrying 31 people when it overturned on Table Rock Lake, a popular tourist attraction.
Missouri Highway Patrol said the ages of the deceased range from one to 70.Missouri Highway Patrol said the ages of the deceased range from one to 70.
A spokesman for the governor told the BBC that they would not immediately provide further details about victims, and it is not yet known whether it was a multi-generational family or if it was a couple with nine children, A spokesman for the governor told the BBC that they would not immediately provide further details about victims, and it is not yet known whether it was a multi-generational family or if it was a couple with nine children.
Governor Parson described the survivors as a family aunt and her 13-year-old nephew, according to CNN.Governor Parson described the survivors as a family aunt and her 13-year-old nephew, according to CNN.
How did the accident unfold?How did the accident unfold?
The vessel began taking on water shortly before 19:00 (00:00 GMT) on Thursday.The vessel began taking on water shortly before 19:00 (00:00 GMT) on Thursday.
Video footage shot by a witness on shore showed two duck boats struggling through choppy waters and spray.Video footage shot by a witness on shore showed two duck boats struggling through choppy waters and spray.
One of the boats made it to shore but the other was driven back by the wind and eventually overwhelmed.One of the boats made it to shore but the other was driven back by the wind and eventually overwhelmed.
During a press conference on Friday, Sheriff Doug Rader could not say whether passengers were wearing life vests at the time of the capsizing, or if the boat's windows were open.During a press conference on Friday, Sheriff Doug Rader could not say whether passengers were wearing life vests at the time of the capsizing, or if the boat's windows were open.
Missouri law requires all children under the age of seven to wear life jackets on boats, unless they are in the "cabin area".Missouri law requires all children under the age of seven to wear life jackets on boats, unless they are in the "cabin area".
The vessel sank in 40ft (12m) of water before rolling to a final depth of 80ft.The vessel sank in 40ft (12m) of water before rolling to a final depth of 80ft.
Sheriff Rader said divers have located the sunken boat and will probably recover it later today.Sheriff Rader said divers have located the sunken boat and will probably recover it later today.
'Shouldn't have been in the water''Shouldn't have been in the water'
Jim Pattison Jr, the tour boat company owner, said the storm appeared to have taken people in the area by surprise.Jim Pattison Jr, the tour boat company owner, said the storm appeared to have taken people in the area by surprise.
The boat, he told US media, "shouldn't have been in the water" due to the weather.The boat, he told US media, "shouldn't have been in the water" due to the weather.
Mr Pattinson said that he has been told by his employees that the accident was likely caused by "a fast-moving storm that came out of basically nowhere".Mr Pattinson said that he has been told by his employees that the accident was likely caused by "a fast-moving storm that came out of basically nowhere".
"Usually the lake is very placid and it's not a long tour, they go in and kind of around an island and back. We had other boats in the water earlier and it had been a great, sort of calm experience," he said."Usually the lake is very placid and it's not a long tour, they go in and kind of around an island and back. We had other boats in the water earlier and it had been a great, sort of calm experience," he said.
The company had been operating for 47 years without incident, Mr Pattinson told CBS, adding that the captain had over 16 years of experience on the water.The company had been operating for 47 years without incident, Mr Pattinson told CBS, adding that the captain had over 16 years of experience on the water.
He also said that the boat had life jackets onboard, but added that under Missouri law, passengers are not required to wear them.He also said that the boat had life jackets onboard, but added that under Missouri law, passengers are not required to wear them.
The deadly accident happened as a line of powerful thunderstorms rolled through the American Midwest, uprooting trees and felling power lines.The deadly accident happened as a line of powerful thunderstorms rolled through the American Midwest, uprooting trees and felling power lines.
At the time of the accident, winds reached around 65mph (104 km/h), according to the National Weather Service.At the time of the accident, winds reached around 65mph (104 km/h), according to the National Weather Service.
Are duck boats dangerous?
There are hundreds of so-called duck boats in use around the world. The amphibious vehicles are popular with tourists and have been providing tours for decades.
The most serious incident was in 1999, when a duck boat listed and sank just minutes after entering Lake Hamilton in Arkansas.
Thirteen people were killed, including three children, after they became trapped beneath the vehicle's canopy.
The cause was later reported to be "uncontrolled flooding" due to a loose part.
What is a duck boat?
The sightseeing vehicles are based on a design used during World War Two to transport personnel and supplies over land and water - known as the DUKW.
The DUKW, a six-wheel-drive amphibious truck, was first made in the US in the mid-1940s to deliver people and materials ashore where no port facilities existed.
Some 21,000 DUKWs were produced for use during World War Two. Many served on D-Day and in the Normandy landings.