Probe begins after more than 30 injured in a ferry collision near Cheung Chau
More than 30 people were injured when a high-speed ferry carrying 160 passengers collided with a cargo ship in waters off Cheung Chau ferry pier late last night.
More than 30 people were injured when a high-speed ferry carrying 162 passengers collided with a mainland cargo ship in waters off Cheung Chau ferry pier late last night.
Passengers on the ferry put on their life jackets and waited in their seats following the crash, a picture taken on the boat showed.
Thirty-five people with minor injuries were taken from the damaged ferry to the Hong Kong - Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan before being taken to hospitals.
Two women who had fallen unconscious after the collision were taken to St John Hospital in Cheung Chau.
The ferry, Universal MK 2013, is operated by Shun Tak-China Travel Ship Management Limited.
The company said the ferry departed from Hong Kong China Ferry Terminal for Macau, and the collision occurred at north of Cheung Chau, half an hour after departure.
The passengers on the ferry consisted of 102 from a mainland tour group, 55 Hong Kong and Macau residents, and five foreigners, Radio Television Hong Kong reported.
No casualties were reported on the mainland ship.
The Marine Department said it is investigating the case.
Footage from Cable News showed several injured passengers being carried away on stretchers. One passenger was taken by helicopter to the Eastern Hospital.
At least nine incidents where ferries collided with other ships, buoys, or docks have been reported in the in the past few years. The most serious occurred when a Hongkong Electric boat collided with a ferry off Lamma Island in October 2012, resulting in 39 killed and 92 injured. It was the the deadliest boat accident in Hong Kong in over 40 years.
