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Dozens Killed in Ferry Collision Near Hong Kong – Update

Dozens Killed in Ferry Collision Near Hong Kong – Update

Mike Schuler
Total Views: 13
October 1, 2012

The Lamma IV was left with just its bow sticking above water.

The number of fatalities has risen to 38, approximately 100 injured

Update 3: Hong Kong authorities have arrested 7 people, including both Captains. Death toll rises to 38. Read More…

Update 2: The Hong Kong Government now reports that 36 people have been confirmed killed. 28 have been recovered from the scene while 8 others have died at area hospitals.

The vessel that partially sank has been identified as the Lamma IV, a passenger vessel chartered by Hong Kong Electric and used to shuttle staff to the power station on the Lamma Island. Lamma IV has the capacity for 200 passengers.

The ferry involved in the crash is owned by the Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry Co. and was damaged in the collision but continued onto its destination. The vessel is used to provide regular ferry service to Lamma Island.

UPDATE 1: The collision has been confirmed by the Hong Kong Government who report that two passenger vessels did collide near the seafront at Lamma Island.

The local Fire Services Department (FSD) says they received a report of the collision at 8.23pm and deployed seven fire boats (including one diving support vessel), mobilized 210 members (including fire and ambulance personnel) and over 20 ambulances (including ambulances from St John Ambulance and Auxiliary Medical Service).

As of 3am local time (October 2), FSD rescued 123 passengers from the sinking vessel. 17 were certified dead at scene while eight others were certified dead upon arrival to hospitals. Over 100 people were sent to five hospitals during the incident, nine of them have sustained serious injuries or are in critical condition.

FSD said the vessel, with over 120 passengers reportedly on board, sank quickly after the collision and low visibility and on board obstacles hampered rescue efforts.

The goverment says that the rescue efforts will continue overnight as FSD cannot rule out that there are still people inside the vessel or missing.

UPDATE 1: The collision has been confirmed by the Hong Kong Government who report that two passenger vessels did collide near the seafront at Lamma Island.

The local Fire Services Department (FSD) says they received a report of the collision at 8.23pm and deployed seven fire boats (including one diving support vessel), mobilized 210 members (including fire and ambulance personnel) and over 20 ambulances (including ambulances from St John Ambulance and Auxiliary Medical Service).

As of 3am local time (October 2), FSD rescued 123 passengers from the sinking vessel. 17 were certified dead at scene while eight others were certified dead upon arrival to hospitals. Over 100 people were sent to five hospitals during the incident, nine of them have sustained serious injuries or are in critical condition.

FSD said the vessel, with over 120 passengers reportedly on board, sank quickly after the collision and low visibility and on board obstacles hampered rescue efforts.

The goverment says that the rescue efforts will continue overnight as FSD cannot rule out that there are still people inside the vessel or missing.

Original: At least 8 people have been killed after a ferry collided with another vessel in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.

According to BBC, the ferry was packed with more than 120 passengers and three crewmembers on a cruise to watch fireworks near Lamma Island in celebration of China’s National Day when it was struck in the mid section by another vessel.

The ferry was reportedly carrying employees from Power Assets Holdings Ltd.’s Hongkong Electric who were on an outing to watch the fireworks when the collision occurred at approximately 8:20 p.m. local time.

The second vessel, which is reportedly a passenger vessel operated by Hong Kong & Kowloon Ferry Holdings Ltd., was carrying approximately 100 passengers and was not badly damaged in the collision. The second vessel was originally reported to be a tugboat by the Hong Kong Government.

More than 40 injured people had been taken to hospitals on Hong Kong Island.

Video From The Scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h247NrR_ukY

The incident follows another fatal ferry collision with another commercial vessel from last week. In that incident, 8 people were killed when an Indonesian ro-ro passenger ferry collided with the LPG/Chemical carrier, Norgas Cathinka.  The collision occurred in the Sunda Strait near the port of Merak, Indonesia and is under investigation.

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