Seventeen lives were claimed by a dragon boat accident in southern China thought to have been caused by a strong current.

According to Foreign media, one of the long, narrow boats packed with paddlers overturned yesterday (April 21) and another arriving at the scene also capsized. In total, almost 60 people were tipped into the water, on a stretch of a river in the city of Guilin. A rescue effort went on into the night with 40 survivors being pulled out. Foreign media reported that some 200 rescuers were sent in to help.

Chinese state TV reported that the accident happened where two flows of the river converge causing a powerful current. Media reports state that many of those who went into the river were not wearing life jackets.

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