On Tuesday morning, February 25th, a collision occurred on the Yuanshui River in Hunan province (China) between a small ferry and a larger oil spill recovery vessel. The incident resulted in 11 fatalities, with 5 individuals still unaccounted for. 19 people were initially thrown overboard during the collision; 3 were rescued on the same day.
The accident took place ~10:00 a.m. local time near Qinglang Township, Yuanling County, when the ferry was struck from behind by the larger vessel. The Yuanshui River at this location is notably deep, averaging 60+ meters, and ~500 meters wide.
Rescue operations have been challenging due to turbulent currents near the riverbed. Specialized teams equipped with sonar and diving equipment are conducting underwater search efforts. The Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a team to investigate the cause of the incident to prevent future occurrences.
The oil spill recovery vessel involved in the collision has been docked, and the 3 crew members aboard, who were uninjured, are under police investigation.