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| 7 Crew Members Detained in Hong Kong Ferry Disaster That Killed Dozens | 7 Crew Members Detained in Hong Kong Ferry Disaster That Killed Dozens |
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| HONG KONG — Seven people were arrested in Hong Kong on Tuesday in connection with a collision between two boats that caused at least 38 deaths in one of the worst disasters the city has seen in years. | HONG KONG — Seven people were arrested in Hong Kong on Tuesday in connection with a collision between two boats that caused at least 38 deaths in one of the worst disasters the city has seen in years. |
| Those arrested — the two vessels’ captains, as well as five other crew members — are suspected of endangering the safety of others at sea, according to an official statement released late Tuesday. Separately, the government also announced that it would form an independent commission to investigate the disaster. | Those arrested — the two vessels’ captains, as well as five other crew members — are suspected of endangering the safety of others at sea, according to an official statement released late Tuesday. Separately, the government also announced that it would form an independent commission to investigate the disaster. |
| One of the boats sank quickly after the collision just off the coast of Lamma, one of the largest of Hong Kong’s many outlying islands, about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, as the city was gearing up for a huge fireworks display that marked China’s National Day. As of late Tuesday, 38 people, several of them children, were confirmed to have been killed. Of the 101 people who were hospitalized, four had serious injuries or remained in critical condition. | One of the boats sank quickly after the collision just off the coast of Lamma, one of the largest of Hong Kong’s many outlying islands, about 8:30 p.m. on Monday, as the city was gearing up for a huge fireworks display that marked China’s National Day. As of late Tuesday, 38 people, several of them children, were confirmed to have been killed. Of the 101 people who were hospitalized, four had serious injuries or remained in critical condition. |
| The collision involved a scheduled passenger ferry and a vessel belonging to Hong Kong Electric, which operates a power station on Lamma Island and is part of the business empire of a Hong Kong billionaire, Li Ka-shing. That vessel, the Lamma IV, had been carrying more than 120 passengers — 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 scheduled passenger ferry and a vessel belonging to Hong Kong Electric, which operates a power station on Lamma Island and is part of the business empire of a Hong Kong billionaire, Li Ka-shing. That vessel, the Lamma IV, had been carrying more than 120 passengers — 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 the ferry, operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, which runs regular services between Lamma and Hong Kong Island. The ferry, the Sea Smooth, was somewhat damaged, but no one on board was seriously hurt. | The Lamma IV, which according to Hong Kong Electric was built to carry 200 passengers, sank quickly after colliding with the ferry, operated by Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry, which runs regular services between Lamma and Hong Kong Island. The ferry, the Sea Smooth, was somewhat damaged, but no one on board was seriously hurt. |
| Witnesses said the Lamma IV sank rapidly, trapping passengers inside. “Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk,” Reuters quoted one survivor as saying. “We had to wait at least 20 minutes before we were rescued.” | Witnesses said the Lamma IV sank rapidly, trapping passengers inside. “Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk,” Reuters quoted one survivor as saying. “We had to wait at least 20 minutes before we were rescued.” |
| The collision set off 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 underwater visibility were hampering the search, which will continue for two more days, government officials said at a news conference that was widely reported on local radio. | The collision set off 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 underwater visibility were hampering the search, which will continue for two more days, government officials said at a news conference that was widely reported on local radio. |
| Photos taken Monday 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 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. | 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,” said Anita Yu, who was going to Lamma with friends on Tuesday. “This was supposed to be a happy day to see the fireworks. I am from Hong Kong, and I have never heard of anything like this happening here.” | “I am very shocked,” said Anita Yu, who was going to Lamma with friends on Tuesday. “This was supposed to be a happy day to see the fireworks. 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 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 boats’ safety. | Still, there appeared to be no sense of general unease about the ferry services, which were running normally Tuesday. Many people were milling around 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 boats’ safety. |
| 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 capsizing 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 have included a stampede that killed 20 people in Lan Kwai Fong, a bar area in the business district, on New Year’s Eve 1992, and a fire that raged through an apartment building in 1996, killing dozens of people. | Major disasters on land have included a stampede that killed 20 people in Lan Kwai Fong, a bar area in the business district, on New Year’s Eve 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 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 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 world’s busiest. 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 world’s busiest. Passenger ferries, private leisure boats and fishing vessels add to the traffic. |
Joyce Lau contributed reporting. | Joyce Lau contributed reporting. |