HONG KONG: Hong Kong police arrested yesterday six crew members from two boats in a collision that killed 38 holiday revelers.
The Monday night crash was Hong Kong’s deadliest accident in more than 15 years, and the worst maritime accident in more than 40. Some relatives of the dead went to the scene off Hong Kong island’s southwest coast to toss spirit money in honor of the victims yesterday, while other people waited at the morgue for tragic news about loved ones.
Police Commissioner Tsang Wai-hung said crew members from both boats were detained on suspicion of endangering passengers by operating the craft unsafely. “We expect further persons to be arrested,” he said.
Tsang said police suspect both crews had not “exercised the care required of them by law,” but he did not elaborate.
A ferry collided with the Lamma IV, which was taking more than 100 employees of a firm along with their families to Victoria Harbor to watch a fireworks display in celebration of China’s National Day and mid-autumn festival.
The government said in a statement that 101 people were sent to hospitals; 66 were discharged, and four had serious injuries or were in critical condition.
The ferry was damaged but completed its journey, and some of its passengers were treated for injuries. Local TV later showed images of the ferry, with its bow chewed up and chunks missing.
The ferry operator did not return calls seeking comment.
The government said 28 bodies were recovered overnight, and eight more victims were declared dead at hospitals. Two bodies found aboard the vessel yesterday raised the death toll to 38, according to government statements. At least four of those killed were children.
Salvage crews raised the half-submerged Lamma IV using three crane barges that surrounded it yesterday.
At the same time, several dozen relatives of victims traveled by boat to take part in a traditional Chinese mourning ritual.
As mourners wept and leaned out their boat’s windows, other observers could see rescue workers bring what appeared to be a dead body out of the water and put it on the deck of a fire department rescue boat, where it was covered with a sheet or bag.
Police didn’t know the exact number of people aboard the boat at the time of the accident and were interviewing survivors to determine if others were missing.
Six crew arrested in deadly Hong Kong boat collision
