At least nine people lost their lives and 70 others were hospitalised after powerful winds overturned four tourist boats in Qianxi, a city in Guizhou province, southwestern China, on Sunday.
According to state media, the sudden gusts of wind caused the boats to capsize on a river, plunging 84 individuals into the water.
Rescue operations were swiftly launched, and while more than a dozen were initially unaccounted for, all but one have since been found.
The disaster occurred during the final days of China’s week-long May Day holiday, a period known for heavy travel and tourism.
In response to the incident, President Xi Jinping called for “all-out efforts” to assist in the rescue mission.
He also emphasized the need for stricter safety protocols, noting a recent series of similar tragedies.
Authorities across China have been instructed to reinforce public safety measures, especially during high-travel periods like holidays.
Sunday’s capsizing follows another deadly maritime incident in March, where 11 passengers died after their boat collided with an industrial vessel in Hunan province.
Additionally, over the same weekend, a sightseeing helicopter crashed in a new park in Suzhou, eastern China, killing one and injuring four others.