Authorities in China’s Hunan province confirmed that a devastating boat collision on the Yuanshui River has resulted in at least 11 fatalities, with five individuals missing and presumed dead.
The calamity occurred on Tuesday morning, February 25, 2025, when a small passenger ferry collided with an oil spill response vessel. Emergency teams scoured the area in a desperate search for the missing passengers.
The part of the river where the collision occurred is known for its complex geological features. With a depth of over 197 feet and a width extending up to 1,640 feet, the river also features strong currents near the riverbed, noted officials from the rescue headquarters.
The ferry was transporting local villagers across the river when it was hit by the larger vessel. The impact flung 19 people into the water, and despite immediate rescue attempts, not all passengers could be saved. Eleven bodies were retrieved, three survivors were rescued and transferred to a nearby hospital, and five passengers remained missing. Divers were dispatched to aid in the search operation.
A survivor managed to escape the sinking ferry by breaking a window with their foot, revealed a family member who spoke to ThePaper.cn, a news platform based in Shanghai.
The three crew members from the oil spill response vessel are under police investigation.
Over 500 rescue workers were deployed for extensive search and rescue operations. The sunken passenger vessel was raised and brought to the surface, while efforts to locate any missing passengers continued, as reported by China’s state news agency, Xinhua.
Videos on Chinese social media depicted emergency responders extracting survivors from the water and grieving families gathering near the riverbanks. Authorities have established a temporary crisis center to support the victims’ family members, with local officials pledging to conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable.
In recent years, China has stepped up its maritime safety regulations following a series of fatal waterway accidents. However, incidents involving overcrowded or poorly maintained vessels remain a worry, especially in rural regions where river travel is a common mode of transportation. The 2015 sinking of the cruise ship Eastern Star in the Yangtze River, which claimed over 400 lives, led to more stringent oversight of passenger ferries and commercial vessels.
Authorities have pledged to boost inspections of vessels operating on the Yuanshui River to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. The Ministry of Transport is also reviewing current safety procedures for oil spill response vessels, considering the potential risks of operating such ships in busy waterways.
The search for the missing passengers continued amid challenging conditions on the Yuanshui River. Rescue teams, equipped with sonar and diving equipment, dealt with turbulent currents near the riverbed, which complicated underwater search efforts. The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management sent a special team to investigate the cause of the accident and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.