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http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2008/200806/20080610/article_362632.htm

Nine killed in river accident

Created: 2008-6-10 0:08:30

NINE villagers were confirmed dead and two remained missing after they fell into a river in east China's Jiangxi Province while watching a dragon boat rowing race on Sunday when local people were celebrating the traditional Dragon Boat Festival.

The 11 villagers were in a crowd on the bank of a river in Tonggubao Village of Wuni Town in Yugan County when they slipped about 5pm, the county's safety administration said yesterday.

Witnesses said the river bank had become muddy and slippery after it had rained.

The Jiangxi provincial government ordered an all-out search and rescue effort, and sent an emergency task force consisting of doctors, public security personnel and safety officials to the site.

Authorities have identified the dead victims.

The search for the two missing people was continuing late yesterday.

The Dragon Boat Festival, or duanwu in Chinese, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar.

Xinhua

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