by Temitope Oladeji
A sudden rain and hailstorm in southwestern China’s Guizhou province has led to the capsizing of four boats on the Wu River, resulting in the deaths of 10 people and injuries to at least 70 others, state media reported on Monday.
The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon near Qianxi City when a fierce storm hit a section of the Wu River, a tributary of the Yangtze River.
Over 80 people were thrown into the water as the storm struck with little warning, creating chaos and severely limiting visibility with thick mist.
Rescue operations involving over 500 emergency personnel continued throughout the night. Initially, reports listed nine fatalities and one missing person.
Still, by noon on Monday, the body of the last missing individual was recovered, showing no signs of life, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
Earlier reports indicated that two tourist vessels were involved, but, later updates confirmed that four boats were affected by the storm—two carrying passengers and two others were unoccupied at the time. All seven crew members on the empty boats managed to swim to safety.
Footage aired by the Chinese state media showed scenes of desperation and urgency, including a man administering CPR as one of the boats floated capsized in the background.
A witness told the state-owned Beijing News that the storm came on suddenly, catching many off guard. Some passengers managed to swim ashore despite the poor visibility and rapid weather change.
In response to the disaster, President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” in search and rescue operations, as well as the medical treatment of the injured, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Xi also stressed the urgent need to enhance safety protocols at tourist sites and large public venues, noting that the country has experienced a series of deadly incidents in recent weeks.
The Wu River, which winds through Guizhou’s scenic and mountainous landscape, is a popular spot for domestic tourism.
The tragedy occurred during China’s busy May Day holiday (May 1–5), a peak travel period marked this year by surging tourist numbers. State media reports indicated that several tourist attractions across the country were overwhelmed with visitors during the holiday season.