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Hong Kong boat crash off Lamma Island kills 25 | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Twenty-five people have died after two passenger boats collided off Hong Kong's Lamma Island, officials say. | |
One of the boats was carrying 121 passengers and three crew to a fireworks display when it half-sank following Monday night's collision. | |
By Tuesday morning, all but one had been pulled from the water. The rescue operation is continuing. | By Tuesday morning, all but one had been pulled from the water. The rescue operation is continuing. |
More than 40 injured people had been taken to hospitals on Hong Kong Island, some suffering from hypothermia. | More than 40 injured people had been taken to hospitals on Hong Kong Island, some suffering from hypothermia. |
The collision occurred during a busy period for passenger travel in Hong Kong, at the end of a long holiday weekend to mark the mid-autumn festival that this year coincides with China's National Day on 1 October. | The collision occurred during a busy period for passenger travel in Hong Kong, at the end of a long holiday weekend to mark the mid-autumn festival that this year coincides with China's National Day on 1 October. |
Power company Hong Kong Electric was reportedly using a commercial boat to take staff and family members to watch National Day fireworks in Victoria Harbour. | |
The vessel and another boat - reportedly operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry - collided, causing the HK Electric vessel to list, a company official was quoted as saying. | |
Shipping channel | Shipping channel |
The crash happened about 2030 on Monday. | |
The low visibility and the many obstacles on the vessel made it difficult for people to escape the listing ship, says the BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong. | |
After several hours of searching, rescuers had pulled 123 people from the water around the listing vessel, an FSD official told AFP. | After several hours of searching, rescuers had pulled 123 people from the water around the listing vessel, an FSD official told AFP. |
"Among them, 17 were certified dead at scene while eight others were certified dead upon arrival at hospitals," the official was quoted as saying. | "Among them, 17 were certified dead at scene while eight others were certified dead upon arrival at hospitals," the official was quoted as saying. |
One survivor told The South China Morning Post: "After 10 minutes out a boat crashed into ours from the side at very high speed. The rear... started to sink. I suddenly found myself deep under the sea. | One survivor told The South China Morning Post: "After 10 minutes out a boat crashed into ours from the side at very high speed. The rear... started to sink. I suddenly found myself deep under the sea. |
"I swam hard and tried to grab a life buoy," added the man. "I don't know where my two kids are." | "I swam hard and tried to grab a life buoy," added the man. "I don't know where my two kids are." |
Lamma lies some three kilometres (two miles) south-west of Hong Kong island, and is popular with tourists and expatriates. | Lamma lies some three kilometres (two miles) south-west of Hong Kong island, and is popular with tourists and expatriates. |
Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest shipping channels. | Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest shipping channels. |
Are you in the area? Did you witness the collision? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC, please use the form below. | Are you in the area? Did you witness the collision? If you have any information you would like to share with the BBC, please use the form below. |
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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