Raft tragedy claims lives of 8 tourists
Print Edition
A WHITEWATER rafting spot has been closed down after eight people died and 10 others were injured when they were swept away by raging torrents cascading down a mountainside in south China’s Guangdong Province.
Taishan city government officials said the accident happened at the Fenghuangxia tourist spot around 3:30pm on Saturday.
More than 300 police took part in the rescue operation.
The 10 survivors are all in a stable condition, the officials said. Seven of the eight people who died had been identified and officials were in touch with their families.
Those in charge of management at the tourist spot have been “put under control,” the government said, without giving any other details.
An investigation is underway and a thorough investigation into other local tourist spots will be carried out, it added.
At a press conference, Taishan Mayor Lu Yongquan and other leading officials observed a moment’s silent in tribute to the victims.
Local villagers said the incident took place where three streams joined. They told the Yangcheng Evening News that water levels had risen dramatically after heavy rain on Saturday morning.
One of the survivors, a man surnamed Chen, told the newspaper that 18 people from his company, including his boss, had been visiting Fenghuangxia and 14 of them had decided to go rafting.
During the excursion it was decided it was too risky to carry on and they had stopped at a rope bridge to disembark. However, he said, a sudden surge of water washed away some of the people already on the bridge and those who were still on the raft. He said he survived by holding on to a rope.
The tourist spot offers military-themed rafting trips. Tourists are kitted out in military uniform and along the 3.3-kilometer course can hear the rumble of guns and “fight enemies” using water guns.
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