Harrowing footage shows the ship sinking as passengers screamed in panic in Chuxiong, China’s Yunnan province, on Tuesday (February 17) as families celebrated the Lunar New Year
Four people have tragically died after a tourist boat capsized at a resort.
Harrowing images show the ship sinking as passengers scream in panic. After the boat first listed to starboard, the boat suddenly lurched and tilted to port. When it passed over, the passengers “none of whom appeared to be wearing life jackets” were thrown into the water.
One man was seen clambering to starboard before climbing onto the upturned hull as the ship completely capsized. The tragedy occurred on Tuesday (February 17) in Chuxiong, China’s Yunnan province, as families were celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Twenty-six people were thrown into the water when the boat overturned, causing a major emergency response. By 8:30 PM that evening, two deaths had been confirmed and two people had been taken to hospital for treatment.
The final death toll was later confirmed at four. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, but it is believed they drowned. The condition of the 22 survivors has not been released, NeedToKnow reports.
The cause of the accident is under investigation. The resort, identified by local media as Lianxiwan Wetland Park, opened in June 2025.
By November that year it had reportedly welcomed around 150,000 visitors and offered family-friendly attractions including flower displays, camping and lake cruises.
It comes after at least eight people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks store in eastern China. The explosion on Sunday afternoon in a village in Jiangsu province was caused by a resident inappropriately setting off fireworks near the shop, the Donghai provincial government said in a statement. No further details about the incident were provided.
Following Sunday’s explosion, the Ministry of Emergency Management urged all regions to strengthen supervision of the production, transportation, sale and use of fireworks to prevent future accidents.
A statement from the ministry said the experimentation of fireworks and firecrackers around shops should be strictly prohibited and called on local governments to identify and eliminate blind spots “to ensure that people have a safe, auspicious and happy Spring Festival.”
Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, begins with the second new moon after the winter solstice in December and typically falls between late January and late February annually. The exact date varies depending on the varied pattern of each lunar cycle – and in 2026, the year of the Fire Horse begins on February 17.
The 15-day festival, rooted in legends of chasing away the Nian Monster, includes red decorations, fireworks, family reunions and the presentation of red envelopes containing money. It starts on the first new moon of the lunar calendar.
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