11 killed when Ozark tourist boat capsizes

Five missing as search continues in Missouri lake

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Eleven people were drowned Thursday night in a winddriven lake tragedy that capsized a pleasure boat on a lake in the Missouri Ozarks.

The incident happen shortly after 7 p.m. on Table Rock Lake near Branson.

Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader said in a news conference shortly before 10 p.m. that at least seven people were taken to hospitals.

There reportedly were 31 people on the “Ride the Ducks” boat, a vehicle that goes from land to water and is a popular attraction for tourists at Table Rock Lake. At least five people were still missing as of 11:30 p.m. Some people were able to swim to shore, according to media reports.

Rader said relatives of missing persons should go to Branson City Hall for information. Officials asked anyone with video of the incident to send it to authorities at the Stone County Sheriff ’s Department.

“It’s going to be all night,” Rader said. “It’s going to be a challenging night and tomorrow.”

Rader would not say whether any of the dead were children.

According to the company’s website, “Ride the Ducks” is a “70-minute guided amphibious tour that takes guests through the scenic Ozarks on both land and water.”

The incident happened shortly after 7 p.m.

The National Weather Service said wind gusts were as strong as 60 mph and caused 3-foot waves. Strong thunderstorms with straight-line winds moved through the Branson area a little after 7 p.m. Thursday, said Cory Rothstein, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Springfield.

“There were winds in excess of 60 mph at that time,” Rothstein said. “The lines of storms themselves were moving very quickly ... There were 3 feet waves on the lake.”

A thunderstorm warning hit the area just after 6:30. By 7:25 p.m. winds at the Branson airport were clocked at 63 miles per hour, Rothstein said.

The West Taney County water rescue team was still working Thursday night. The Missouri Highway Patrol water rescue service was on the way, Rader said.

Storms in the area had emergency crews scrambling to respond to calls about transformer fires, downed and arcing power lines and toppled trees. At 7:04 p.m., a call went out from Taney County Public Safety dispatch about strong winds and a report of rotating clouds, according to audio captured on Broadcastify.com

Then, at 7:16 p.m.: “We need a water rescue. Will be north of the Showboat. Will be a duck that has capsized. We have approximately 30 individuals in the water.”

A few minutes later, someone said: “It’s pretty intense here. I’ve got probably 55 mph winds here at the shop and very heavy rain.”

“Ride the Ducks” is a tourist attraction association with Branson in Taney County, but the incident happened on the lake in Stone County.

The City of Branson government posted a notice on Facebook Thursday evening.

“While the incident did not occur in Branson, we are hoping and praying for all involved,” the post said. “As this is a developing situation, all questions should be directed to the Missouri Highway Patrol or the Stone County Sheriff’s Department.”

The Branson Belle tourist attraction reportedly helped in the immediate rescue operation. Rader said a Stone County sheriff’s deputy was on the boat when it capsized and was helping to rescue people.