A sudden storm in southwestern China led to the capsizing of four boats, resulting in the death of 10 people, according to reports on Monday. The incident occurred in a popular tourist location in Guizhou province, where over 80 individuals were thrown into a river due to the strong winds that swept the area late Sunday afternoon.
The boats were overturned by an unexpected rain and hail storm that hit the upper reaches of the Wu River, a tributary of the Yangtze, China’s longest river. Footage shared by state media showed a man performing CPR on another individual, while a capsized vessel floated upside down nearby.
Rescue operations were conducted in Qianxi City, Guizhou Province on Monday, May 5, 2025, following the tragic incident. Initial reports suggested that only two tourist boats had capsized, but it was later confirmed on Monday that four boats were involved in the accident. The other two boats were unoccupied, and the seven crew members on board were able to save themselves.
The mountains and rivers of Guizhou are a significant attraction for tourists, and many Chinese nationals were traveling during a five-day national holiday that concluded on Monday. In response to the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for exhaustive efforts to locate the missing and provide care for the injured. Seventy individuals were transported to a hospital, with most suffering minor injuries.
President Xi emphasized the need for enhanced safety measures at tourist attractions, large public venues, and residential communities, particularly during the return of large crowds at the end of major holidays. This call to action comes in the wake of a series of fatal accidents in the country.
State broadcaster CCTV reported that the capsized boats had a maximum capacity of about 40 people each and were not overloaded at the time of the incident. An eyewitness account from state-owned Beijing News indicated that the waters were deep, but some individuals managed to swim to safety. However, the sudden storm and the thick mist that followed obscured the river’s surface.