China's Xinhua News Agency reports that the death toll from a vessel collision incident that occurred in the central province of Hunan last week has risen to 11 after rescuers found and recovered the bodies of nine other deceased victims.
Two people were initially reported as deceased following the collision between the passenger boat Xiangyuanling Ke 0301 and the oil spill recovery vessel Huailushui No 1 in the Yuanshui River in Qinglang Township on Tuesday, February 25.
The passenger boat capsized and sank due to the force of the impact, and 19 occupants fell overboard as a result, whereas all crewmembers on the spill recovery vessel are accounted for.
Only three people have been safely rescued among those who were on board the passenger boat. Five others are still missing.
Local officials said the search and recovery effort is being hampered by the river's strong bottom current and the fact that the area where the passenger boat capsized has an average depth of 60 metres.
Salvors recovered the wreckage of the passenger boat on the evening (local time) of Friday, February 28.