Three Dead, 14 Missing After Tourist Boats Capsize in China

Two sightseeing boats capsized in China’s Guizhou province, leaving three dead and 14 missing as a massive rescue operation mobilizes to find survivors in the latest maritime tourism tragedy to strike the nation.

Key Takeaways

Three people have died and 14 remain missing after two tourist boats capsized in Qianxi city, Guizhou province, throwing over 70 people into the water.
Chinese authorities have deployed a massive rescue operation including 83 divers, 16 underwater robots, 248 rescue personnel, and 24 vessels.
President Xi Jinping has called for “all-out efforts” in rescue operations and emphasized the need for strengthened safety measures at tourist attractions.
This incident follows another fatal boat collision in Hunan province just two months ago that killed 11 people, raising serious concerns about maritime tourism safety in China.
Sixty passengers from the capsized vessels have been hospitalized, while Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing personally oversees the ongoing rescue efforts.

Deadly Incident at Popular Tourist Destination

The tragic incident occurred on May 4, 2025, at a river tourist attraction in Qianxi city, located in China’s southwestern Guizhou province. Two sightseeing boats carrying approximately 70 tourists capsized, plunging all passengers into the water. Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, but despite their efforts, three people were confirmed dead, while 14 others remain unaccounted for. Medical teams transported 60 passengers to local hospitals for treatment, though the specific nature and severity of their injuries have not been disclosed by Chinese authorities.

Details about what caused the vessels to capsize remain limited. Chinese state media has not specified weather conditions at the time of the incident or whether the boats were overcrowded. The tourist attraction where the accident occurred is known for its scenic waterways, but specific information about safety protocols and regulations governing the operation of these sightseeing vessels has not been made available.

Massive Rescue Operation Underway

Chinese authorities have mobilized substantial resources to locate the missing tourists. The rescue operation includes 83 specialized divers trained in underwater recovery, 16 advanced underwater robots equipped with sonar technology, 248 rescue personnel, and 24 vessels to search the waterway. Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing has personally traveled to the site to direct rescue efforts, highlighting the government’s high-level response to the tragedy.

President Xi Jinping has issued direct instructions regarding the incident, calling for “all-out efforts” to find the missing individuals and provide appropriate care for the injured. His public statements also emphasized the urgent need for strengthened safety measures and enhanced risk prevention protocols at tourist attractions throughout China, particularly those involving water activities. These comments suggest growing concern at the highest levels of the Chinese government about safety standards in the country’s rapidly expanding tourism sector.

Three dead and 14 missing after two sightseeing boats carrying tourists capsize in China https://t.co/l6l8j8xX7S

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) May 4, 2025

Pattern of Maritime Tourism Accidents

This tragic event follows a similar deadly incident that occurred just two months earlier in neighboring Hunan province. In that accident, a passenger boat collided with an industrial vessel used for oil waste recovery, resulting in 11 fatalities. The earlier incident also prompted a large-scale rescue operation, but challenging conditions including deep waters and strong currents complicated recovery efforts. Chinese authorities detained three individuals from the industrial vessel as part of an ongoing investigation into the cause of that collision.

The two successive maritime accidents have raised serious questions about safety standards and regulatory oversight in China’s booming tourist industry. As the country continues to develop its domestic tourism sector, particularly in scenic rural areas with natural waterways, these incidents highlight potential gaps in safety protocols, emergency response capabilities, and enforcement of existing regulations. Local authorities throughout China may face increased pressure to review and strengthen safety measures at water-based tourist attractions.