Four people died after a tourist boat capsized at Lianxiwan Wetland Park in Chuxiong City, Yunnan Province, on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, as families celebrated the Lunar New Year. Harrowing footage of the incident shows the vessel sinking rapidly as passengers screamed, with the boat initially listing to starboard before overturning to port.
The accident occurred at approximately 3:40 pm local time, sending twenty-six people into the water, according to a preliminary report issued by the Ministry of Emergency Management. Emergency rescue and firefighting forces were dispatched to the scene. By 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, two deaths had been confirmed and two individuals were receiving medical treatment. The final death toll was later confirmed as four, with the cause of the accident still under investigation.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has urged local authorities to verify the total number of casualties, ensure comprehensive care for the injured, and conduct a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the capsizing and hold those responsible accountable. The Office of the State Council Operate Safety Commission has placed the investigation under special supervision, requiring authorities in Yunnan to expedite the investigation and pursue accountability in accordance with the law.
Lianxiwan Wetland Park, which opened in June 2025, had reportedly welcomed around 150,000 visitors by November of that year, offering attractions including flower displays, camping facilities, and lake cruises. The identities of the victims have not yet been released.
The incident occurred during the Spring Festival, a fifteen-day celebration marking the Lunar New Year, which began on February 17th in 2026, the year of the Fire Horse. The festival is traditionally observed with red decorations, fireworks, family gatherings, and the exchange of red envelopes containing money.
The accident follows a separate incident on Sunday, February 16th, in Jiangsu province, where at least eight people were killed in an explosion at a fireworks shop. The blast was attributed to a resident improperly setting off fireworks near the shop. Following that incident, the Ministry of Emergency Management issued a nationwide call for strengthened supervision of fireworks production, transportation, sales, and employ to prevent future accidents, specifically prohibiting the testing of fireworks near stores and urging local governments to address safety gaps.
