Hong Kong, Oct 2 (IANS) The toll in Monday’s Hong Kong ferry collision rose to 37, Xinhua reported quoting officials Tuesday.
The accident occurred when a ferry and a pleasure craft collided off Lamma Island on the southwest of Hong Kong Island at 8.23 p.m. Monday.
The toll, as of 4.00 p.m. Tuesday, stood at 37, said Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung.
Speaking at a press conference following an inter-departmental meeting, Leung said 29 bodies were recovered from the site of the collision while eight people died in various hospitals.
A total of 101 injured were sent to five different hospitals, with four stated to be in serious or critical condition.
Regional flags at government buildings will be flown at half-mast for three days starting Thursday.
One of the vessels, carrying 124 people, was rented by the Hong Kong Electric company to carry its staff and their families on a cruise to watch the fireworks at Victoria Harbour.
The boat sank quickly after the collision.
The other vessel, which did not capsize, was a ferry operated by the Hong Kong and Kowloon Ferry company. It was also carrying dozens of people.
