More than 70 injured in Hong Kong ferry accident

Oct 21, 2011, 7:54 GMT

Hong Kong - More than 70 people were injured when a high-speed passenger ferry hit a concrete mooring pillar as it was leaving one of Hong Kong's outlying islands Friday, media reports said.

Some of the casualties, including a critically injured woman in her 70s, had to be airlifted to hospital on Hong Kong Island, according to broadcaster RTHK.

Others were transported by ferry to the central business district where they were helped into 18 ambulances and taken to hospital. Some were treated in a clinic on Cheung Chau island, where the accident occurred.

The catamaran ferry, owned by New World First Ferry, had about 140 people onboard when it slammed into the concrete mooring as it departed for the central business district on Hong Kong Island.

The coxswain said there were no lights on the mooring structure which was 400 metres offshore and he was trying to avoid a navigation buoy when the incident occurred.

'Most people had been asleep. Suddenly, we heard a loud bang and the ferry came to an abrupt halt. The impact caused most people to jolt forward,' a passenger said on the Cable TV channel.

The front of the vessel was holed, but did not take in water.

The accident was being investigated by government marine officials.