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Death toll of HK ships collision rises to 38
Source: Agencies/Shanghai Daily |
October 2, 2012, Tuesday
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Online Edition
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At least 38 people were killed and more than 100 injured after two ferries collided off Hong Kong's Lamma Island ahead of a harbor fireworks yesterday evening in one of the city's worst maritime accidents.
Twenty-eight people were pronounced dead at the scene, and another eight after arrival at five local hospitals, the Hong Kong government said on its website today. Among the passengers taken to the hospitals, nine were in serious or critical condition as of 7:45 am local time, the government said.
The two ferries collided at about 8:23 pm yesterday and rescuers had pulled 123 people from the sinking vessel as of 3 am today, the Hong Kong government said in an earlier statement.
The ferry that sank was being used by Power Assets Holdings Ltd's HongKong Electric subsidiary to carry 124 passengers and crew to watch fireworks y at the Victoria Harbour to celebrate China's National Day, the broadcaster RTHK said, citing company Director of Operations S.S. Yuen.
"Our ferry left Lamma island at 8.15 pm to watch the fireworks display out at sea, but within a few minutes, a tugboat (ferry) smashed into our vessel," Yuen told reporters.
Television pictures showed the red and blue bow of the Hong Kong Electric Company ferry pointing skywards, surrounded by rescue vessels as government helicopters with search lights circled overhead.
"Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk. We had to wait at least 20 minutes before we were rescued," said on male survivor, wrapped in a blanket on the shore. Other survivors said the ship swiftly flooded, trapping many people underwater. Passengers had little time to put on life jackets and some had to break windows to swim to the surface. "We thought we were going to die. Everyone was trapped inside," said another middle aged woman.
The other ferry, which suffered a minor damage, was operated by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Holdings Ltd, according to RTHK and Now TV. It made it safely to the pier on Lamma island with a badly damaged bow after the collision, though several of its passengers and crew were taken to hospital with injuries. The Hong Kong government didn't give details of the vessels' identities.
The ferry was partially submerged with only its bow above water, RTHK said, citing witnesses and passengers. The boat was designed for 200 people and had adequate life-saving equipment on board, the broadcaster said, citing Yuen.
Low visibility hampered rescue efforts, with many passengers trapped in the flooded upturned ferry before it sank, said survivors. Some passengers' inability to swim and injuries from the collision hindered their ability to escape from the sinking ferry, Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man said on a live broadcast on Now TV.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation, so "it is too early to say who should take the responsibility," said Zhong Shaowen, an official from the city's Marine Department on this morning.
"Rescue works have been difficult overnight due to the low visibility and many obstacles on board, so the death toll might further increases," Wu Jianzhi, an official of the city's Fire Services Department, told reporters today, adding the rescue action will continue as there might still be people inside the vessel or missing.
The Hong Kong & Kowloon ferry was carrying about 100 passengers, a few of whom were lightly injured and have been released from hospital, RTHK said on its Chinese-language website, citing an unidentified spokesman for the company. The ferry company hasn't yet been able to question the boat's captain, according to Now TV. He's very familiar with the route, RTHK said.
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung has rushed to a pier in the Hong Kong Island near the scene to visit the injured people. He told reporters last night that an emergency coordination center has been set up and relevant departments of the city government have made all-out efforts to rescue those who fell into the sea.
"We will do all we can to deal with the aftermath of the accident," said the Chief Executive, who also visited all the five hospitals where the injured were receiving medical treatment throughout the night.
Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest shipping channels, and the Lamma Island locates near one of Hong Kong's busiest shipping lanes. It's an island south of Hong Kong popular with tourists and expatriates.
Twenty-eight people were pronounced dead at the scene, and another eight after arrival at five local hospitals, the Hong Kong government said on its website today. Among the passengers taken to the hospitals, nine were in serious or critical condition as of 7:45 am local time, the government said.
The two ferries collided at about 8:23 pm yesterday and rescuers had pulled 123 people from the sinking vessel as of 3 am today, the Hong Kong government said in an earlier statement.
The ferry that sank was being used by Power Assets Holdings Ltd's HongKong Electric subsidiary to carry 124 passengers and crew to watch fireworks y at the Victoria Harbour to celebrate China's National Day, the broadcaster RTHK said, citing company Director of Operations S.S. Yuen.
"Our ferry left Lamma island at 8.15 pm to watch the fireworks display out at sea, but within a few minutes, a tugboat (ferry) smashed into our vessel," Yuen told reporters.
Television pictures showed the red and blue bow of the Hong Kong Electric Company ferry pointing skywards, surrounded by rescue vessels as government helicopters with search lights circled overhead.
"Within 10 minutes, the ship had sunk. We had to wait at least 20 minutes before we were rescued," said on male survivor, wrapped in a blanket on the shore. Other survivors said the ship swiftly flooded, trapping many people underwater. Passengers had little time to put on life jackets and some had to break windows to swim to the surface. "We thought we were going to die. Everyone was trapped inside," said another middle aged woman.
The other ferry, which suffered a minor damage, was operated by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Holdings Ltd, according to RTHK and Now TV. It made it safely to the pier on Lamma island with a badly damaged bow after the collision, though several of its passengers and crew were taken to hospital with injuries. The Hong Kong government didn't give details of the vessels' identities.
The ferry was partially submerged with only its bow above water, RTHK said, citing witnesses and passengers. The boat was designed for 200 people and had adequate life-saving equipment on board, the broadcaster said, citing Yuen.
Low visibility hampered rescue efforts, with many passengers trapped in the flooded upturned ferry before it sank, said survivors. Some passengers' inability to swim and injuries from the collision hindered their ability to escape from the sinking ferry, Hong Kong's Secretary for Food and Health Ko Wing-man said on a live broadcast on Now TV.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation, so "it is too early to say who should take the responsibility," said Zhong Shaowen, an official from the city's Marine Department on this morning.
"Rescue works have been difficult overnight due to the low visibility and many obstacles on board, so the death toll might further increases," Wu Jianzhi, an official of the city's Fire Services Department, told reporters today, adding the rescue action will continue as there might still be people inside the vessel or missing.
The Hong Kong & Kowloon ferry was carrying about 100 passengers, a few of whom were lightly injured and have been released from hospital, RTHK said on its Chinese-language website, citing an unidentified spokesman for the company. The ferry company hasn't yet been able to question the boat's captain, according to Now TV. He's very familiar with the route, RTHK said.
Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung has rushed to a pier in the Hong Kong Island near the scene to visit the injured people. He told reporters last night that an emergency coordination center has been set up and relevant departments of the city government have made all-out efforts to rescue those who fell into the sea.
"We will do all we can to deal with the aftermath of the accident," said the Chief Executive, who also visited all the five hospitals where the injured were receiving medical treatment throughout the night.
Hong Kong is one of the world's busiest shipping channels, and the Lamma Island locates near one of Hong Kong's busiest shipping lanes. It's an island south of Hong Kong popular with tourists and expatriates.
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