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| 6 Crew Members Detained in Hong Kong Ferry Disaster That Killed Dozens | 6 Crew Members Detained in Hong Kong Ferry Disaster That Killed Dozens |
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| HONG KONG — Six people were arrested in Hong Kong on Tuesday in connection with a ferry accident that caused at least 37 deaths in one of the worst disasters the city has seen in years. | HONG KONG — Six people were arrested in Hong Kong on Tuesday in connection with a ferry accident that caused at least 37 deaths in one of the worst disasters the city has seen in years. |
| Three crew members were arrested from each of two boats that collided just off the coast of Lamma, one of the largest of Hong Kong’s many outlying islands, at about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, as the city was gearing up for a mammoth fireworks display that marked China’s National Day. | Three crew members were arrested from each of two boats that collided just off the coast of Lamma, one of the largest of Hong Kong’s many outlying islands, at about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, as the city was gearing up for a mammoth fireworks display that marked China’s National Day. |
| The six are suspected of endangering passengers by operating the vessels unsafely, senior police officials said at a news conference here in Hong Kong that was widely reported on local radio. More arrests may follow, they added. | |
| The accident happened when a boat carrying more than 120 people collided with a passenger ferry coming the other way and quickly sank. | The accident happened when a boat carrying more than 120 people collided with a passenger ferry coming the other way and quickly sank. |
| Thirty-seven people, some of them children, were confirmed to have been killed, and more than 100 people were hospitalized, some with serious injuries. | Thirty-seven people, some of them children, were confirmed to have been killed, and more than 100 people were hospitalized, some with serious injuries. |
| The Hong Kong government on Tuesday convened a top-level interdepartmental meeting on the accident and pledged a thorough investigation. | The Hong Kong government on Tuesday convened a top-level interdepartmental meeting on the accident and pledged a thorough investigation. |
| The collision involved a vessel belonging to Hong Kong Electric, which operates a power station on Lamma Island and is part of the billionaire Li Ka-shing’s sprawling business empire. The vessel, the Lamma IV, had been taking staff members and their families to see the fireworks display in Victoria Harbor — for many, the highlight of a four-day holiday weekend in the city. | The collision involved a vessel belonging to Hong Kong Electric, which operates a power station on Lamma Island and is part of the billionaire Li Ka-shing’s sprawling business empire. The vessel, the Lamma IV, had been taking staff members and their families to see the fireworks display in Victoria Harbor — for many, the highlight of a four-day holiday weekend in the city. |
| The Lamma IV, which according to Hong Kong Electric was built to carry 200 passengers, sank quickly after colliding with a ferry operated by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry, which runs regular services between Lamma and Hong Kong Island. The Hong Kong & Kowloon ferry sustained some damage, but no one onboard was seriously hurt. | The Lamma IV, which according to Hong Kong Electric was built to carry 200 passengers, sank quickly after colliding with a ferry operated by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry, which runs regular services between Lamma and Hong Kong Island. The Hong Kong & Kowloon ferry sustained some damage, but no one onboard was seriously hurt. |
| Witnesses said the Lamma IV sank rapidly, trapping passengers inside. “Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk. We had to wait at least 20 minutes before we were rescued,” Reuters quoted one survivor as saying. | Witnesses said the Lamma IV sank rapidly, trapping passengers inside. “Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk. We had to wait at least 20 minutes before we were rescued,” Reuters quoted one survivor as saying. |
| The collision triggered a search-and-rescue operation involving divers, helicopters and numerous police and marine department vessels that picked scores of survivors from the sea Monday night. Currents and poor visibility underwater were hampering the search, which is to continue for two more days, government officials said at the news conference Tuesday afternoon. | |
| Photos taken Monday night showed the boat half-submerged, its bow pointing nearly straight up, not far from one of the two ferry piers on Lamma. Salvage crews were raising the vessel on Tuesday. | Photos taken Monday night showed the boat half-submerged, its bow pointing nearly straight up, not far from one of the two ferry piers on Lamma. Salvage crews were raising the vessel on Tuesday. |
| Connected to Hong Kong Island by regular, half-hour ferry trips, Lamma is home to about 6,000 people, many of them expatriates. Its relaxed atmosphere, scenery and seafood restaurants make it a popular tourist destination. | |
| “I am very shocked. This was supposed to be a happy day to see the fireworks,” said Anita Yu, who was on her way to Lamma with friends on Tuesday. “I am from Hong Kong, and I have never heard of anything like this happening here.” | “I am very shocked. This was supposed to be a happy day to see the fireworks,” said Anita Yu, who was on her way to Lamma with friends on Tuesday. “I am from Hong Kong, and I have never heard of anything like this happening here.” |
| Still, there appeared to be no sense of general unease about the ferry services, which were running normally Tuesday. Many people were milling around at the ferry piers on Hong Kong Island, home to the city’s financial center, soaking in the holiday atmosphere. | Still, there appeared to be no sense of general unease about the ferry services, which were running normally Tuesday. Many people were milling around at the ferry piers on Hong Kong Island, home to the city’s financial center, soaking in the holiday atmosphere. |
| Asked whether the disaster had made her afraid to take the ferry, Ms. Yu replied that she had faith in the safety of the boats. | Asked whether the disaster had made her afraid to take the ferry, Ms. Yu replied that she had faith in the safety of the boats. |
| Fatal ferry accidents are common in developing Asian countries, where infrastructure development often has not kept pace with population growth and increased demand for travel. Overcrowding and poor maintenance often lead to high death tolls. At least 117 people died when a ferry capsized in Bangladesh in March, and scores were killed in a similar incident in India in May. | Fatal ferry accidents are common in developing Asian countries, where infrastructure development often has not kept pace with population growth and increased demand for travel. Overcrowding and poor maintenance often lead to high death tolls. At least 117 people died when a ferry capsized in Bangladesh in March, and scores were killed in a similar incident in India in May. |
| In Hong Kong, however, where infrastructure and weather-warning systems are highly developed, such disasters are extremely rare. A severe typhoon caused a ferry to capsize in 1971, killing 88 people. | In Hong Kong, however, where infrastructure and weather-warning systems are highly developed, such disasters are extremely rare. A severe typhoon caused a ferry to capsize in 1971, killing 88 people. |
| Major disasters on land include a stampede that killed 20 in Lan Kwai Fong, a busy bar area in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district, on New Year’s Eve of 1992, and a fire that raged through an apartment building in 1996, killing dozens of people. | Major disasters on land include a stampede that killed 20 in Lan Kwai Fong, a busy bar area in the heart of Hong Kong’s business district, on New Year’s Eve of 1992, and a fire that raged through an apartment building in 1996, killing dozens of people. |
| Hong Kong’s maritime safety standards are generally high and accidents rare, despite the fact that the waters surrounding the Asian financial and trading hub are often busy with commercial shipping traffic from regional and transcontinental cargo lines. | Hong Kong’s maritime safety standards are generally high and accidents rare, despite the fact that the waters surrounding the Asian financial and trading hub are often busy with commercial shipping traffic from regional and transcontinental cargo lines. |
| Hong Kong’s port and nearby mainland Chinese ports in the Pearl River Delta rank among the busiest in the world. Numerous passenger ferries, private leisure boats and fishing vessels add to the traffic. | Hong Kong’s port and nearby mainland Chinese ports in the Pearl River Delta rank among the busiest in the world. Numerous passenger ferries, private leisure boats and fishing vessels add to the traffic. |
Joyce Lau contributed reporting. | Joyce Lau contributed reporting. |