9 dead and 70 hospitalized after 4 boats capsize in Qianxi, China
Strong winds and heavy rainfall struck Qianxi, Guizhou Province, China, on Sunday, May 4, 2025, causing four tourist boats to capsize on the Liuchong River. The incident left nine people dead and 70 hospitalized.
Tourist boats on Liuchong river, in Qianxi on May 4, 2025
Nine people died and 70 others were hospitalized after four tourist boats capsized in the Liuchong River in Qianxi City on Sunday, May 4, throwing at least 84 tourists into the water.
While the initial death toll was reported to be ten, it was later changed to nine, with one person being reported missing.
According to official reports, the four boats included 28-seat and 42-seat passenger vessels that were overturned by strong winds and waves while returning to port.
The incident occurred at around 16:00 local time on Sunday, during the five-day May Day holiday, also known as the “golden week,” which ends on Monday, May 5. Local media reported that the weather changed suddenly before the boats capsized, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and mist.
Wave heights reportedly reached 1.5 m (5 feet), with gusts reaching wind force 7 on China’s 17-level wind scale. This is equivalent to wind speeds of 50 to 60 km/h (32 to 38 mph).
At about 4 p.m. on May 4, a tourist attraction in Qianxi, Guizhou, was hit by a supercell. Four cruise ships were overturned by strong winds, causing 84 people to fall into the water. So far, 83 people have been rescued, of which 9 have died and another is missing. pic.twitter.com/NOy39GpHYs
— Jim (@yangyubin1998) May 5, 2025
The “golden week” break is a popular time for travel, and hotel bookings across the province were up by a third on the first day of the holiday.
The China Meteorological Administration (CMS) warned on Sunday that there would be heavy downpours in the southwestern and southern parts of China, including Guizhou and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules.