The tragic capsizing incident of a tourist boat in Bijie, Guizhou, has resulted in an increasing number of fatalities, with reports circulating widely online. According to a source interviewed by Dajiyuan, the estimated death toll far exceeds the official figures reported. The major accident involving significant casualties during the labor day holiday travel peak period has drawn nationwide attention.
According to Xinhua News Agency’s report on the morning of May 5th, around 4:40 pm on May 4th, a sudden strong wind hit the Liu Guang River in the Baili Gallery Scenic Area of Wuren Township in Qianxi District, Bijie City, Guizhou, causing four boats to capsize and 84 people to fall into the water. Currently, 9 people have been reported dead, 70 are still receiving medical treatment in hospitals, 4 are unharmed, and 1 person remains missing.
A leaked online report stated that in reality, four boats capsized, with over 200 people falling into the water, including more than 80 individuals on a single boat. Some of the rescued individuals were taken to hospitals. While the capsizing of four boats has been confirmed by official media, the credibility of the official casualty figures has been questioned by the public.
Previous reports indicated that near the East Wind Storage Area of Liu Chong River in Xinren Miaozu Township, Qianxi City, Guizhou Province, two tour boats capsized. As of around 10:30 pm on May 4th, the incident had resulted in 3 deaths, 60 individuals receiving medical treatment, and 14 people still being searched for.
On May 5th, a resident of Qianxi, Guizhou, told Dajiyuan that five of his friends, all aged sixteen to seventeen and students, were on the boat at the time of the incident. Upon hearing about the capsizing, he went to the scene where he learned that two of his friends were missing, three were hospitalized with non-severe injuries. He overheard that more than twenty people were still unaccounted for.
He believes that the official death toll is definitely underreported, estimating that it could be over a hundred people with four boats sinking.
A lady who disembarked from a boat just ten minutes before the storm hit shared her experience of sudden strong winds, heavy rain, and hail. She mentioned that she witnessed the capsizing of other boats and vowed never to sail on similar vessels again due to the terrifying experience.
A local practitioner of Tianshengjing, not far from the incident site in Guizhou, advised against visiting places with increasing numbers of visitors as they are prone to disasters.
A tourist from Zunyi, Guizhou, recounted the harrowing experience when their boat was caught in the midst of the storm at the center of the water. The captain managed to navigate skillfully by opening all windows to create airflow, eventually reaching a sheltered bay after facing perilous moments similar to passing through the gates of hell.
He mentioned that several individuals managed to climb out of the capsized boats and were waiting for rescue. The scene was attended by local firefighters, emergency teams, police, and medical personnel, and the area was cordoned off. He also mentioned receiving numerous calls and messages from authorities instructing them to refrain from disseminating unauthorized information.
According to media reports, a Sichuan tourist named Zhang Qian stated that approximately half an hour before the incident, the weather was sunny; however, the situation changed abruptly, prompting the captain and first mate to decide to return to shore as dark clouds loomed. They encountered heavy winds and waves, growing more fearful as they continued. The captain accelerated towards the shore, eventually anchoring the boat near a rocky area, with the first mate risking his life to secure the vessel to a large rock nearby.
The boat was eventually pushed onto the rocks by the strong winds. Visibility was low, estimated at only one meter, and the passengers saw other boats capsizing, realizing the severity of the situation.
In a report by Red Star News, a lady named Chen from Guiyang shared her perspective as she witnessed the capsizing of two boats, one large and one small, from another boat in the tourist area.
As reported by China National Radio, Mr. Li, a passenger on the tour boat with two designated levels – one for seating and the other for sightseeing – stated that while passengers on the lower level seldom wore life jackets, those on the upper deck were required to wear them. This led to a discrepancy in the actual usage of life jackets among passengers.
It was reported that the operating vessels involved in the incident belonged to the Donghu Agricultural Passenger Transport Co., Ltd. in Xindian Town, Qingzhen City, Guiyang. Netizens on Weibo alleged that the company, in pursuit of maximizing profits, had long neglected safety concerns and failed to respond effectively to extreme weather warnings.
The incident has sparked widespread concern and discussions among netizens.
A netizen from Guangdong, “Xin Yixiang Image Photographer Yu Fei,” expressed sadness over the circumstances, questioning why individuals would risk traveling during the Labor Day holiday if they could afford to do so any time. They pondered on the sacrifices made for such endeavors and the value derived from them.
Another netizen from Hunan, “Hai Du Kevin,” highlighted the management responsibilities in tourist areas, stressing the importance of having contingency plans for extreme weather events to prevent accidents.
According to a report by Red Star News, the meteorological observatory in Bijie City issued a severe convective yellow warning at 1:50 pm on May 4th, predicting thunderstorms in several areas within 24 hours, accompanied by strong thunderstorm winds, hail, and severe convective weather.
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