At least 36 dead after Hong Kong ferry sinks following collision

At least 36 people died and dozens were injured when a ferry carrying more than 120 revelers on a company outing collided with another ferry and sank near an island south of Hong Kong on Monday night, in one of the city's worst maritime accidents.                 

The ferry belonging to the Hong Kong Electric Company, controlled by billionaire Li Ka-shing, was taking staff and family members to watch fireworks in the city's Victoria Harbour to celebrate China's National Day and mid-autumn festival when it hit the other ship and began sinking near Lamma Island.                         

Survivors said they had little time to put on life jackets before the ferry flooded, trapping passengers.                   

Hong Kong Electric, a unit of Power Assets Holdings which is controlled by Asia's richest man Li, said the boat had capacity to hold up to 200 people.                        

The tragedy was the worst to hit Hong Kong since 1996 when more than 40 people died in a fire in a commercial building.   


REUTERS