Harrowing footage shows the vessel sinking as passengers screamed in panic in Chuxiong, in China’s Yunnan Province, on Tuesday (17 February), as families were celebrating the Lunar New Year
Four people have tragically died after a tourist boat capsized at a resort.
Harrowing footage shows the vessel sinking as passengers screamed in panic. After first listing to starboard, the boat suddenly lurched and toppled over to port. As it went over, the passengers ” none of whom appeared to be wearing life jackets ” were flung into the water.
One man was seen scrambling onto the starboard side before climbing onto the upturned hull as the vessel fully capsized. The tragedy unfolded in Chuxiong, in China’s Yunnan Province, on Tuesday (17 February), as families were celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Twenty-six people were thrown into the water when the boat overturned, triggering a major emergency response. By 8.30pm that evening, two deaths had been confirmed and two people had been taken to hospital for treatment.
The final death toll was later confirmed as four. The identities of the victims have not been released, but it is believed they drowned. The condition of the 22 survivors has not been disclosed, as reported by NeedToKnow.
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, offering family-friendly attractions including flower displays, camping and lake cruises.
It comes after at least eight people have been killed in an explosion at a fireworks shop in eastern China. The Sunday afternoon blast in a village in Jiangsu province was caused by a resident setting off fireworks improperly near the shop, the Donghai county government said in a statement. It did not provide any further details about the incident.
Following Sunday’s explosion, the Ministry of Emergency Management urged all regions to strengthen the supervision of the production, transportation, sales and use of fireworks to prevent future accidents.
A ministry statement said that trying out fireworks and firecrackers around stores should be strictly prohibited and called on local governments to identify and eliminate blind spots “to ensure the people have a safe, auspicious and happy Spring Festival.”
Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year, commences with the second new moon following December’s winter solstice, typically falling between late January and late February annually. The exact date varies according to the varied pattern of each moon cycle – and in 2026 the year of the Fire Horse starts on February 17.
The 15-day festival, rooted in legends of scaring away the Nian monster, features red decorations, fireworks, family reunions, and the giving of red envelopes containing money. It begins on the first new moon of the lunar calendar.
