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Hong Kong boat crash off Lamma Island kills 36 | Hong Kong boat crash off Lamma Island kills 36 |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A collision between two passenger boats off Hong Kong has left at least 36 people dead, officials say. | A collision between two passenger boats off Hong Kong has left at least 36 people dead, officials say. |
One of the boats was carrying more than 120 people to a fireworks display when it half-sank following Monday night's collision near Lamma Island. | One of the boats was carrying more than 120 people to a fireworks display when it half-sank following Monday night's collision near Lamma Island. |
Twenty-eight people were pronounced dead at the scene. About 100 others have been taken to hospital, eight of whom were later said to have died. | Twenty-eight people were pronounced dead at the scene. About 100 others have been taken to hospital, eight of whom were later said to have died. |
A large-scale air and sea search for survivors is still continuing. | A large-scale air and sea search for survivors is still continuing. |
A Hong Kong government statement said: "Over 100 people were sent to five hospitals during the incident, nine of them have sustained serious injuries or are in critical condition." | A Hong Kong government statement said: "Over 100 people were sent to five hospitals during the incident, nine of them have sustained serious injuries or are in critical condition." |
Rescue work would continue, the statement added, because the fire department could not rule out that there were still people inside the vessel or missing. | Rescue work would continue, the statement added, because the fire department could not rule out that there were still people inside the vessel or missing. |
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. | 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. | 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. |
The other boat reportedly had about 100 people on board. | The other boat reportedly had about 100 people on board. |
It was slightly damaged in the crash but returned safely to port, according to Radio Television Hong Kong. A number of passengers on board were treated for minor injuries. | It was slightly damaged in the crash but returned safely to port, according to Radio Television Hong Kong. A number of passengers on board were treated for minor injuries. |
'High speed' | 'High speed' |
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung promised an investigation into the accident. | |
"All of Hong Kong's emergency forces are focused here," he said. "Wide-ranging rescue work is being carried out on in the sea, land and in the air." | |
Dozens of boats and two helicopters were involved in the search. | Dozens of boats and two helicopters were involved in the search. |
The crash happened about 20:30 on Monday. 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. | |
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." |
Witnesses said the boat went under very fast. | |
"Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk. We had to wait at least 20 minutes before we were rescued," Reuters news agency quoted one man as saying. | |
"We thought we were going to die. Everyone was trapped inside," another woman said. | |
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, but its ferries have a good safety record. | |
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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