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Vincent Yu / AP
A half submerged boat is lifted by cranes Tuesday, after Monday night's collision near Lamma Island, off the southwestern coast of Hong Kong Island.
Police on Tuesday arrested seven crew members from two boats carrying partygoers that collided, killing at least 38 people in one of Hong Kong's deadliest maritime accidents.
Police Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung said six people, including captains from both vessels, were detained on suspicion of endangering passengers by operating the craft unsafely. "We expect further persons to be arrested," Tsang said. Police announced a seventh arrest after his comments.
Tsang said police suspect both crews had not "exercised the care required of them by law," but he did not offer details.
Salvage crews were raising the Lamma IV, which sank after colliding with a ferry Monday as it carried partygoers to a fireworks show celebrating China's national day.
Hong Kong police have arrested six crew members after a company boat and a ferry carrying more than 120 collided in what is being called Hong Kong's worst maritime disaster in more than 40 years. NBC's Ian Williams reports.
More than 100 people from the party boat were rescued and sent to hospitals. The ferry was damaged but completed its journey, and some of its passengers were treated for injuries.
The ferry collided with a boat owned by utility company Power Assets Holdings Ltd., which was taking its workers and their families to famed Victoria Harbor to watch a fireworks display in celebration of the national day and mid-autumn festival.
PhotoBlog: Mourning begins as bodies are recovered from ferry crash
Police are interviewing survivors to determine if others were still missing following the accident. Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying has ordered a full investigation into the crash, the worst maritime accident in the territory's waters in 40 years.
Lueng rejected suggestions that Hong Kong needed to overhaul rules governing its busy sea lanes, the South China Morning Post reported.
"This is definitely an isolated incident. The marine territory of Hong Kong is safe," he said.
Dozens gathered at Kwai Chung Public Mortuary on Tuesday looking for relatives, the Post reported.
There was no immediate word about how Monday night's collision occurred on the tightly regulated waterways of one of Asia's safest places, although it appeared human error was involved. The evening was clear and both vessels should have been illuminated by running lights when they crashed near Lamma Island off the southwestern coast of Hong Kong island.
Vincent Yu / AP
Relatives of the victims throw paper money Tuesday as they pay tribute to the ill-fated people aboard a boat that sank Monday night near Lamma Island, off the southwestern coast of Hong Kong Island.
Witnesses Sarah Blackman told the BBC she was on board one of the boats involved.
"I was on the top deck of the ferry and felt the impact — it threw people off their seats. The sound the collision made was horrific," she told the BBC.
"Our ferry cut its engines and a crew member checked if passengers had sustained injuries from the impact. Our engines went back on, and a couple of other passengers and I went back to the rear of our ferry to look for the other boat that was now behind us, and that is when we saw it sinking in the water. As far as I'm aware, no lifeboats were on board — just life buoys and life jackets," she added.
Six crew members have been arrested after a boat and a ferry collided in Hong Kong killing at least 37-people as they headed to a holiday fireworks display. TODAY's Natalie Morales reports.
Survivors told local television stations that the power company boat started sinking rapidly after the 8:23 p.m. (8:23 a.m. ET) collision. One woman said she swallowed a lot of water as she swam back to shore.
A man said he had been on board with his children and didn't know where they were. Neither gave their names.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Leave a Comment:
It sounds from the article like the ferry continued on it's way instead of standing by to offer assistance to the party boat. If this is true, then the captain of the ferry should be prosecuted. It is more than likely that the accident was caused by the party boat since the ferries over there run on very tightly controlled routes in order to try and prevent things like this from happening. That, however, does not excuse the captain an crew of the ferry from their responsibility to render assistance in the event of an accident like this. It is so sad that what started out as a celebration for the people on the party boat turned into such a tragedy with 37 people losing their lives. My condolences go out to all of those injured and to the family and friends of those who died. I certainly hope they get to the bottom of what caused this and that those responsible for the collision and the loss of life are called to account for their actions.
They detained the crews of both boats so that they can sort out which crew was on which boat ..... Chinese boat drill.
JS in SD, did it occur to you that the ferry's captain continued because he was in fear of his craft sinking? And he felt that attempting to save those in the water could endanger the lives of all those on board his ship? In typical fashion, BSNBC has omitted pertinent details that were already posted yesterday in some of Hong Kong's local news media.
E.g. read this article: http://rthk.hk/rthk/news/englishnews/news.htm?hightlight&20121002&56&873428
They do not take 'accidents' lightly in the orient. Wait and see.
Horrible accident. I too offer my condolences.
I couldn't help but notice the people's faces pictured throwing money into the ocean to pay tribute to those who lost their lives. I wonder what's going through their minds as they throw their money over board. I understand there is a cultural difference between our two nations, but seriously, do they need to throw money away?
Some rituals in the World should go away.
DUDE-875416, they throw "paper" money only, not the real note. It is only a paper that cut into the size of note.
At least the police chief's middle name is not Well...
They can't drive cars very well ether. Best to stick to rickshaws.
It's a shame Obama wasn't on that boat.
I agree JS...also that would be considered leaving the scene of an accident here...not sure what their laws are like though
So your one day a week is Tuesday?
earthycat777.... Meth, what a fool you are. Do you know that cancer is going to come around in a few years and pay you a visit? Yummy yummy, meth mmmmmm, it makes you feel real good huh? If you are in the penal system you will get a random fool. You're just playing the "meth head hillbilly" right now. It will come back and haunt you, guaranteed.
the BBC report: passengers said the Ferry stopped for a moment after the collision then took off - leaving the sinking boat behind - another captain saving himself first.
Maritime law requires vessels to go to the aid of other vessels in distress. The ferry should have stopped and helped those aboard the sinking ship.
Aside from that there really isn't much else to say except to offer sympathy to those who lost their lives and their families.
Keelhaul them! Arrrrrr!
It's all about money, can't stop, keep going.
ain't nothin' right about china!
Most likely a deck hand was at the wheel of the party boat -- while the Captain went to take a piss.
Well at least we have some gratification. China now has many of our problems on top of what they already had. Well minus some of the poverty. And a press that can get some of the real news out. Can you think about that??? I just want to know who inspects meds made in China? For all we know it could have cockroach legs, pubic hairs, boogers, and heaven knows what else in the formula. Especially when they know it's being produced for We The People. They laugh there butts off all the way home and to the bank.
Let's reserve judgment until we get the facts.
Adele Arlitt:
Are you serious? How will the conspiracy theorists get through their day when they have facts?
Yet it might be the Utility Companies boat fault. Ferries have a direct route they take. They partyboat might had strayed into the ferry boat's path and the captain might have blasted warnings for the other boat.
My condolences to all families of the deceased.
The captain of the ferry may very well have left the scene because he was concerned about the integrity of his boat. Maritime law does require a vessel at sea to render aid to another. But not at it's own peril.
We don't have many facts at this point. What I can say is that China DOES follow international law. Most Americans probably find this hard to believe because they tend to only get the political side of things. Then you have those who have likely never been outside of a "cowtown"...
As it happens, I watched this fireworks display. But I watched from Macau and had no idea there was an accident until hours later.
My sincere condolences to the families for their loss of loved ones in this incident. This is truly a tragedy.
I'm surprised Obama hasn't given out a press release on this yet, surely one of these children could look like his son? Or maybe we should be extended our food stamp program to China also?
A person like you using words like "we" and "our"....who are they, your imaginary friends?
It is diffrent culture. Unlike in America, people here will help and think about rescue first. God bless America.
Have you ever been outside of the U.S. much less your own house? Here in America some people will walk right by an injured person and not help at all.
.....
Remind me never to need help from Joe Veteran. I guess I'll jsut stay in my house.
Whats with throwing paper money as tribute? Is that like pouring malt liquor out for the hommies who aint here no more?
It's probably fake paper money. I'm not sure if it is Hinduism or Buddhism (and I'm probably remembering all the details wrong), but when I went to shrines/temples in Hong Kong, you could buy or make your own paper 'items' to burn to send up to dead loved ones for their afterlife and/or tribute. In addition to money, you could 'send' a TV made of paper or a car for example.
I feel very sorry for the people involved. I've been on 2-3 ferries in Hong Kong and always found them very nice and well run.
horrible!!!!!! why are so many people worried about the money being thrown????how about the people NOT YET FOUND????????
don't go out on a boat if you can't swim !!!
Agree!!
this time the fish get to eat some chinese ,instead of the other way around !
Very sad...
to the ones that posted about the ferry not helping. really now? did it ever occur to you that they checked then left so the ferry didn't sink. perhaps he called in the disaster. geez..
to the moron that said ..don't go out on a boat if you can't swim. when I was little I would go on my fathers boat,..however, we had life jackets...
another one said they threw away their " money"...ahh...paper that looked like money. Other cultures think we may be odd the way we grieve for people in our country. Such has placing flowers near where a shooting or accident was or the laying of wreaths in the water where there was a tragedy.
There could be much more going on behind the scene. Hong Kong used to have one of the world's strongest Democracies and vocal and vigilant citizenry. A very good honest and investigative press modeled after the BBC and NOT the lackey style Corporate American Press. Since Hong Kong came under COMMUNIST control and COMMUNISTS have moved into positions of decision making, who knows if we'll ever find out what happened. PS. Ocean waters around HK are the filthiest I've ever encountered. It's no surprise the Great Barrier Reef is now dead.
And just what might the connection be between polluted Hong Kong waters and the Great Barrier Reef?
What a weird country. Let's throw money off a boat because our relatives died.
It's not here, who cares, move on news media= focus on the middle east=where our soilders, are dieing, for you.
The china has millions of people, who cares, do you think they would care if it were here the sinking of a boat and people died, No'p
"Party Boat" says it all.
Lamma Island is one of my favorite places in Hong Kong. The seafood is great - alive when you pick it out - and the prices were incredibly reasonable. Lots of boats tie up there for dinner parties (not necessarily booze parties), and since there's not much room in their tiny harbor, boats tie up to each other, side to side, and run planks across so people can disembark and get to the waterfront restaurants.
The best way I can describe it is like three cars triple-parked in New York, except you don't have to walk across the other cars to get to the curb.
Another point is that the waters in and around Hong Kong are treacherous for small boats because the waters are churned by the constant water traffic -- ferries, hydroplanes, cruise liners, military vessels, and cargo vessels, in addition to the junks, the little walla-wallas and the other fishing boats.
I heard that the Italian Captain of the ocean liner that sank in January was looking for a job in China a few months ago.. maybe he found one