Hong Kong police arrest 7 in harbor collision that killed 38 people - Los Angeles Times

 
BEIJING -- Hong Kong police arrested two captains and five crew members Tuesday in connection with the collision of a pleasure boat and a ferry that left 38 people dead and more than 100 injured in the territory's worst maritime accident in four decades.

The disaster happened about 8:25 p.m. Monday near Lamma Island, west of Hong Kong Island.

Dozens of passengers were thrown into the water from a vessel chartered by Hong Kong Electric Co. for its employees to watch a holiday fireworks display in Victoria Harbor marking China's National Day. The electric company's boat rapidly sank, and photos from the scene showed a Titanic-like image of just the vessel's bow sticking up vertically from the water.

All of the fatalities appeared to be from the company boat; the ferry was able to sail to port on Lamma Island. Local media said Tuesday night that 27 people remained hospitalized, two in critical condition. Sixty-six others had been discharged.