Beijing: Two dragon boats practicing for a race on a river in southern China have overturned, drowning 17 people, authorities said today.
The
accident happened at about 1:30 PM yesterday when the dragon boats, 18
meters long and with a capacity of 30 passengers each, overturned during
the practice session on Taohuajiang River in Guilin, the regional
capital.
About 60 people fell into the water.
Seventeen
people were killed after the boats overturned yesterday in southern
China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the authorities said.
Eight boats and over 200 people were dispatched for the rescue.
Authorities
in Guilin said villagers in Dunmu Village organised the practice
session without notifying police beforehand. Two organisers have been
detained, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
PTI
