38 die in Hong Kong ferry disaster
At least 38 dead after an evening cruise to watch the National Day fireworks celebration ends in tragedy
Investigations into the cause of a ferry collision that killed 38 people and left 101 injured continued on Tuesday afternoon as authorities boarded the half-submerged boat.
It was still unclear whether all 124 passengers from a Hongkong Electric ferry which sank near Lamma Island on Monday night were accounted for. The boat was packed with utility company employees and their families, and three crew members, on their way to watch a fireworks display in celebration of National Day in Victoria Harbour.
It collided with a Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry (HKKF) boat headed for Lamma Island from Central around 8.15pm on Monday night. The Hongkong Electric vessel was half sunk in the water with the bow pointing up at an angle of 90 degrees.
Of the passengers on the Hongkong Electric ferry, 38 have been confirmed dead and 93 injured. Of the 93 injured, two are listed in critical condition, two in serious condition, 23 as stable and 66 were discharged from hospital.
Eight onboard the HKKF ferry were injured and treated at a local clinic on Lamma Island.
“Twenty-eight were certified dead at the scene while eight others were certified dead upon arrival at hospitals,” the government said earlier in a statement. Two other deaths were announced later on Tuesday.
[Video: Eye-witness account of ferry disaster, by Helene Frachineau]