Sixty paddlers practising for a race fall into river in southern city of Guilin as two boats capsize in strong current

Seventeen people died after two dragon boats capsized in southern China.

The boat crews were practising on Saturday for a race in the Taohua river in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, the city’s fire department said.

The accident happened where two flows of the river converge, causing a powerful current, the CCTV broadcaster said.

Television pictures showed one of the long, narrow boats packed with paddlers going over. Another dragon boat arrived at the scene, also full of paddlers, and it too capsized, the pictures showed.

Most of those who went into the river were not wearing life jackets, media reported.

The Guilin fire department said on the Sina Weibo social media site that search efforts ended late on Saturday and 17 people had been confirmed dead. A total of 60 people fell into the water.

The official Xinhua news agency said eight boats and more than 200 people had been deployed to the rescue.

Two organisers of the practice, from the village of Dunmu, were detained, Xinhua said.

The dragon boat festival, which this year is being held on 18 June, is a traditional holiday in China.</s>Seventeen people were killed when two dragon boats capsized in southern China, authorities said.

The boats were practicing for a race in the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, the fire department confirmed.

It was not immediately clear what caused the boats to capsize.

The fire department said on its official social media account that search efforts ended late on Saturday and 17 people had been confirmed dead — a total of 60 people fell into the water.

The official Xinhua News Agency said eight boats and over 200 people had been deployed to the rescue.

The accident happened where two flows of the river converge, causing a powerful current.

Most of those who went into the river were not wearing life jackets, media reported.

Two organisers of the practice, from the village of Dunmu, were detained, Xinhua said.

Dragon boat racing is popular in various parts of Asia and the Dragon Boat Festival (Duanwu) is a traditional holiday in China, this year on June 18.

China has sought to step up safety surrounding nationwide dragon boat racing during the festival, which commemorates the death of the poet and minister Qu Yuan.</s>Two dragon boats practicing to race on a river in China have overturned and 17 people drowned, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

Television pictures showed one of the long, narrow boats packed with paddlers going over on Saturday on a stretch of a river near the city of Guilin where the current appeared to be strong.

Another dragon boat arrived at the scene, also full of paddlers, and it too capsized, the pictures showed.

Xinhua said 57 people had gone into the water and 200 rescuers were sent to help. The rescue effort went on late into the night.

The accident happened where two flows of the river converge causing a powerful current, the CCTV broadcaster said. Most of those who went into the river were not wearing life jackets, media reported.

Two people had been detained in connection with the accident, Xinhua said.

Dragon boat racing is popular in various parts of Asia and the Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional holiday in China, this year on June 18.</s>Seventeen people have drowned after two dragon boats capsized in southern China.

Rowers on board the boats were practising for a race in the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, the Xinhua news agency said.

Television pictures showed one of the long, narrow boats going over on a stretch of a river where the current appeared to be strong.

Another dragon boat arrived at the scene and it too capsized, the pictures showed.

The accident happened where two flows of the river converge causing a powerful current.

Xinhua said 57 people had gone into the water and 200 rescuers were sent to help.

Most of those who went into the river were reportedly not wearing life jackets.

Two people have been detained in connection with the accident.

Drag boat racing is popular in parts of Asia and the Dragon Boat Festival is a traditional holiday in China, which takes place this year on June 18.</s>Seventeen people were killed after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, authorities have said.

Seventeen people were killed after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, authorities have said.

The boats were practising on Saturday for a race in the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, said the fire department of the city of Guilin, capital of Guangxi region.

It was not immediately clear what caused the boats to capsize. Rescuers prepare to search for missing boaters (Chinatopix via AP) The fire department said on its official account on the social media site Sina Weibo that search efforts ended late on Saturday and 17 people had been confirmed dead. A total of 60 people fell into the water.

The official Xinhua News Agency said eight boats and over 200 people had been deployed to the rescue. Two organisers of the practise, from the village of Dunmu, were detained, Xinhua said.

China has sought to step up safety surrounding nationwide dragon boat racing during the Duanwu festival, which falls near the summer solstice and commemorates the death of the poet and minister Qu Yuan in the third century BC.</s>BEIJING (AP) - Seventeen people were killed after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, authorities said Sunday.

The boats were practicing Saturday for a race in the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, said the fire department of the city of Guilin, capital of Guangxi region.

It was not immediately clear what caused the boats to capsize.

Rescuers prepare to search for missing boaters on the Taohua River in Guilin in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Chinese state media said that several people have died and others are missing after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, causing dozens of people to fall into the water. (Chinatopix via AP)

The fire department said on its official account on the social media site Sina Weibo that search efforts ended late Saturday and 17 people had been confirmed dead. A total of 60 people fell into the water.

The official Xinhua News Agency said eight boats and over 200 people had been deployed to the rescue.

Two organizers of the practice, from the village of Dunmu, were detained, Xinhua said.

China has sought to step up safety surrounding nationwide dragon boat racing during the Duanwu festival, which falls near the summer solstice and commemorates the death of the poet and minister Qu Yuan in the third century B.C.

Two dragon boats that capsized sit in the water on the Taohua River in Guilin in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Chinese state media said that several people have died and others are missing after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, causing dozens of people to fall into the water. (Chinatopix via AP)

Rescuers search for missing boaters on the Taohua River in Guilin in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Chinese state media said that several people have died and others are missing after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, causing dozens of people to fall into the water. (Chinatopix via AP)

Rescuers search for missing boaters on the Taohua River in Guilin in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Chinese state media said that several people have died and others are missing after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, causing dozens of people to fall into the water. (Chinatopix via AP)

Rescuers search for missing boaters on the Taohua River in Guilin in southern China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Saturday, April 21, 2018. Chinese state media said that several people have died and others are missing after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, causing dozens of people to fall into the water. (Chinatopix via AP)</s>Seventeen people were killed after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, authorities said Sunday.

The boats were practicing Saturday for a race in the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, said the fire department of the city of Guilin, capital of Guangxi region.

It was not immediately clear what caused the boats to capsize.

The fire department said on its official account on the social media site Sina Weibo that search efforts ended late Saturday and 17 people had been confirmed dead. A total of 60 people fell into the water.

The official Xinhua News Agency said eight boats and over 200 people had been deployed to the rescue.

Two organizers of the practice, from the village of Dunmu, were detained, Xinhua said.

China has sought to step up safety surrounding nationwide dragon boat racing during the Duanwu festival, which falls near the summer solstice and commemorates the death of the poet and minister Qu Yuan in the third century B.C.</s>Seventeen people were killed after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, authorities said on Sunday.

The boats were practising on Saturday for a race on the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, the fire department in the Guangxi capital said.

It was not immediately clear what had caused the boats to capsize.

The fire department said on its official Weibo social media account that search efforts had ended late on Saturday and 17 people had been confirmed dead.

A total of 60 people fell into the water.

Enter the dragon boat: Hong Kong rowers brave 12 hours in Taiwan waters for green fundraiser

The official Xinhua news agency said eight boats and more than 200 people had been deployed to the rescue.

Two organisers of the training session, from the village of Dunmu, were detained, Xinhua said.

China has sought to step up safety surrounding nationwide dragon boat racing during the annual festival, which falls near the summer solstice – this year it is on June 18 – and commemorates the death of the poet and minister Qu Yuan in the third century BC.</s>BEIJING (AP) — The fire department says the death toll from two boats that capsized in southern China has risen to 17.

The boats were practicing Saturday for a race in the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened. It's not immediately clear what caused the boats to capsize.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>Beijing: Two dragon boats practicing to race on a river in China have overturned and 17 people drowned, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday.

Television pictures showed one of the long, narrow boats packed with paddlers going over on Saturday on a stretch of a river near the city of Guilin where the current appeared to be strong.

Another dragon boat arrived at the scene, also full of paddlers, and it too capsized, the pictures showed.

Xinhua said 57 people had gone into the water and 200 rescuers were sent to help. The rescue effort went on late into the night.

The accident happened where two flows of the river converge causing a powerful current, the CCTV broadcaster said. Most of those who went into the river were not wearing life jackets, media reported.
Two dragon boats capsize in the Taohua river in Guilin, China, resulting in at least 17 deaths.