Sudden storm capsizes tourist boats in Guizhou, China; 10 confirmed dead, 70 injured, 84 thrown into river, rescue and safety efforts underway.

Ten people have died following the capsizing of four boats during a sudden storm in Guizhou province, located in southwest China, according to reports from state media on Monday.

The boats were navigating the Wu River, a well-known tourist destination, when they were hit by an unexpected rain and hailstorm late Sunday afternoon.

A total of 84 individuals were thrown into the river as the boats overturned. Of those, 70 were hospitalized with injuries that were not life-threatening, while four others managed to escape the incident without harm.

One person, initially declared missing, was discovered dead around noon on Monday, raising the confirmed number of fatalities to ten.

An eyewitness recounted that the rescue efforts were hindered by the river's deep waters and the thick mist that enveloped the area, making escape and visibility more difficult.

Out of the four vessels involved, only two were carrying passengers. The crew members aboard the other two boats were able to reach the shore safely.

The incident occurred during the May Day holiday, which is a peak travel period across China.

Nearly 500 rescue personnel, including police and firefighters, were deployed in an overnight search and rescue operation.

An initial investigation found that the boats, each with a capacity of about 40 passengers, had not been overloaded.

In response to the incident, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged officials to strengthen safety protocols at tourist destinations and other public venues in light of a recent string of deadly accidents.

State media also reported that Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing was dispatched to Guizhou to oversee the ongoing rescue and recovery operations.

This tragedy comes a little more than two months after a similar incident in Hunan province, where 11 people lost their lives when a passenger boat collided with an industrial vessel.