China Central Television (CCTV) reported that more than 80 people were thrown into the water when strong winds struck a tourist area along the upper reaches of the Wu River, a tributary of the Yangtze—the longest river in China. The storm brought heavy rain and hail, causing the boats to overturn without warning.

Video footage released by CCTV showed one man performing CPR on a victim while an overturned boat floated nearby.

Initial reports stated that two boats had capsized, but a follow-up report on Monday, May 5, confirmed that four boats were involved. Two of the vessels were carrying passengers, while the remaining two were not. All seven crew members aboard the empty boats managed to escape safely.

Guizhou’s mountainous terrain and scenic rivers make it a popular holiday destination. The incident occurred during a five-day national holiday, which ended on Monday, prompting a surge in domestic travel.

State news agency Xinhua reported that President Xi Jinping has called for all-out efforts to search for the missing and to care for the injured. He also stressed the need to strengthen safety measures at tourist destinations, public venues, and residential areas, particularly during major holidays.

CCTV added that each capsized boat had a maximum passenger capacity of about 40 and was not overloaded at the time of the incident. One eyewitness said the water level was high, but some passengers were able to swim to safety. However, the storm struck with little warning, and thick fog quickly enveloped the river, complicating rescue efforts.

https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign/2856537