Tour boats suspended after boat capsizes in SW Chinese city

Firefighters search for missing people in Bailong Lake of Guangyuan, Southwest China's Sichuan province, June 4, 2016. Eighteen people were on board when a ship capsized in Bailong Lake of Guangyuan Saturday afternoon. A child was confirmed dead after a medical treatment and 14 people were still missing. [Photo/Xinhua]

GUANGYUAN - Operation of all tour boats and ships in the city of Guangyuan in Southwest China's Sichuan province has been suspended for a thorough safety inspection after a leisure boat capsized on a lake Saturday, local authorities said on Sunday.

A leisure boat carrying 18 people capsized on Bailong Lake due to strong gales Saturday afternoon. One child died and 14 people remain missing.

Three survivors remain under observation at a local hospital.

As of Sunday morning, a 320-member rescue team, including frogmen, had been dispatched to the site.

The search for the missing continues.

Eighteen people were onboard the boat, "Shuanglong," with 40 seats, when the incident happened. It is owned by a local ship company, according to Lizhou district maritime department, where the accident occurred.

Around Sunday noon, Blue Sky Rescue, a civilian group made up of outdoors experts, found the capsized boat thanks to a locating device and underwater cameras, however, there were no sign of life.

Li Xiang, a rescuer with Blue Sky Rescue, told Xinhua the boat had sunk to a depth of 65.1 meters. Underwater robots will be sent to assist the salvage on Monday.