Boats collision leaves 11 dead in Hunan

Eleven people have died and five are still missing as of Friday night after two boats collided in a river in Yuanling county, Hunan province, on Tuesday, according to local authorities.

A passenger boat collided with a vessel carrying waste at around 10 am on Tuesday. The crash caused the passenger boat, which had 19 people aboard, to capsize. Three people were rescued with non-life-threatening injuries. The vessel carrying waste sailed back to shore, with all three of its occupants unharmed.

The accident happened in an area that is about 500 meters wide, with an average depth of more than 60 meters, and has a strong current, according to a release from the search and rescue headquarters.

More than 500 professional rescuers from Hunan and other areas have been dispatched in the search and rescue efforts.

The capsized boat was recovered at 9:26 pm on Friday. Search and rescue efforts continue for the remaining missing people.