Rescuers said that by 10 p.m., they had found 14 survivors and recovered three bodies. The survivors said there were more than 40 people on board and all had fallen into the water after the boat overturned and sank.

The ferry boat has a carrying capacity of 49 tons or 69 passengers. Drawing alongside, it run into another boat on the bank of the river and sank, said officials who rush to the scene to organize the rescue work.

The local government has mobilized more than 200 boats in search of those still missing.

On June 22, 2000, a serious boat accident happened in the same county, leaving 130 people dead and causing direct economic losses of more than three million yuan (US$360,000). A total of 26 people responsible for the accident were disciplined.

(Xinhua News Agency August 2, 2002)