Tourist boat tragedy: 12 dead, dozens face punishment

Dozens of individuals received punishment of different levels for their involvement in a tourist boat-capsizing accident that resulted in 12 fatalities in Lulong county, Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, in April, according to an official investigation report made public on Sunday.

Six people have been arrested, including the boat's owner and captain and some tour organizers. Another six organizers and guides were released on bail pending trial, according to the report.

The report was issued by the Department of Emergency Management of Hebei province, and CCTV.com quoted it in a news report.

In addition, the report mentioned that 24 public officials or civil servants, including two vice city mayors of Qinhuangdao, were held accountable.

According to the investigation, the boat with 31 passengers capsized around 2:25 pm on April 13 after encountering a strong wind in the Qinglong River area near Taolinkou village, and all the passengers fell into the water.

After rescue efforts, 19 of the passengers were saved, while the remaining 12 died.

The boat had no relevant procedures or technical documentation, lacked life-saving and communication equipment, and did not display markings such as the vessel's name, port of registry, draft marks or load lines. It was an unregistered vessel with no required documentation, according to the report.

It added that the boat was originally a fish-farming boat. In August 2023, it began operating on the water after undergoing private modification.