Lamma Island Boat Disaster

This morning we were shocked to discover that while we were enjoying our dinner cruise on the Bauhinia, a  terrible tragedy was unfolding involving two other vessels.

Around 8:20pm, a few kilometers to the west of us, near Lamma island, two ferries collided causing 38 fatalities and injuring over 100.   Apparently a catamaran ferry, the Sea Smooth, collided into a smaller pleasure boat, the Lamma IV, causing it to sink rapidly.  The Lamma IV had around 125 people on board including many families, and was on its way to Central to view the fireworks display.

One survivor told the SCMP "after 10 minutes out, a boat crashed into ours from the side at very high speed.  The rear.. started to sink.  I suddenly found myself deep under the sea.  I swam hard and tried to grab a life buoy.  I don't know where my two kids are. "  Obviously our hearts go out to this poor person and everyone else who lost friends or family.

This tragedy feels very close to us.  We had planned to go to Lamma ourselves earlier that day and I even recall seeing the Sea Smooth at the pier (distinctive name).   When we took the fast ferry to DB Hannah insisted that read the safety card to her and we discussed emergency procedures,  even to the point of looking at the life-jacket stowed in our seat.   I had some uncomfortable moments imagining how difficult it would be to evacuate Hannah from the ferry along with 500 other people  if it was sinking.  

When we took the cruise on the Bauhinia I'd noticed the absence of a safety announcement.   And I'd been so struck by the of crowd of spectator boats maneuvering for a view of the fireworks that I took this video.

Despite this, Hong Kong harbor is apparently very safe overall, especially considering how many vessels are moving about.   Yesterdays tragedy was the firth worst in Hong Kong history and the worst since 1971.