11 dead as tourist boat sinks in Missouri lake
WASHINGTON: A tourist boat capsized and sank Thursday during a fierce storm on a lake in Missouri, killing at least 11 people, the local sheriff said.
The incident on Table Rock Lake which happened as thunderstorms rumbled through the US Midwest left another seven people hospitalised while at least five were still missing, Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader told journalists, saying some of the dead were children.
The local branch of the Cox Medical Center said two people were in critical condition, while the sheriff added several people had made it to shore.
Divers had arrived at the scene to assist in the search, Rader said, ending the rescue efforts for the night at 11pm (0400 GMT yesterday), with plans to resume operations in the morning.
Rader said 31 people had been aboard the amphibious vessel, known as a duck boat for its wheels that allow it to ride on land in addition to floating low on the water.
He said the incident was caused by heavy winds, saying the tour boat had been making its way to land.
Two boats had been on the water, according to Rader, one of which returned safely.
The man-made lake where the boat sank is a popular tourist draw located in southern Missouri near the city of Branson, on the border with Arkansas.
Rick Kettels, who owns the Lakeside Resort on the shores of Table Rock Lake, said the storm appeared to come out of nowhere.
“It just came up real quick,” he told AFP, saying the severe weather struck around 6.15pm local time.
“I’ve been here most of my life and I never saw a storm this bad,” he said, adding that he had not seen a warning from local weather stations.
When the storm seemed imminent he had rushed to the lake to urge guests and boats to evacuate, as rough waves began slamming into his resort pier.
Steve Lindenberg, a meteorologist in Springfield, Missouri some 72 kilometres north of Branson, told AFP a string of severe thunderstorms had barreled through the area causing significant tree damage and downed power lines.
At that office meteorologists had clocked winds at 119 kilometres per hour, issuing a warning to the area at approximately 6.30pm.
Branson airport had experienced a peak gust of 63 miles per hour, Lindenberg said.
“Our hearts are heavy tonight,” the City of Branson said in a statement.
“This is a very trying time for all those who are involved.”
Branson, Missouri is a vacation destination popular for its theaters and country music, including singer Dolly Parton’s Civil War-themed attraction.
The company Ripley Entertainment owns the capsized boat, having added Branson’s ‘Ride the Ducks’ attraction to its roster last year.
“Ride the Ducks” is a seasonal tour through the area’s famed Ozarks region.
Ripley Entertainment spokeswoman Suzanne SmagalaPotts said in a statement the company would “do all we can to assist the families who were involved and the authorities as they continue with the search and rescue.” — AFP