1 Sep 2011

China ‘wave’ injures tourists at annual event

Dozens of people are injured in China as a massive tidal wave catches onlookers, including a television presenter, by surprise.

China 'wave' injures tourists at annual event (Reuters)

Hundreds of people had gathered to watch the natural phenomenon.

But the biggest return tide in nine years destroyed the barriers on the Laoyancang dam of the Qiantang River, east China’s Zhejiang Province, injuring more than 20 tourists and security guards.

Having no time to escape, many tourists were washed down from an embankment about eight metres high.

A television presenter was also caught out by the massive wave (see video below).

This year the spectacular tide came earlier because of the influence of the typhoon Nanmadol, which hit Fujian Province, while packing strong winds.

“The first tide bounced back after hitting the bank. It then met the second tide which was coming towards the bank. And then a third tide came up to meet the first two returning tides, forming huge torrential waves,” said Shen Xuefeng, a Haining resident, who recorded the scene with his DV camera.

“When the third tide was coming up, I had to run away while shooting the sight, because the tide was keeping rising, damaging the barriers of the dam.

“Many people immediately started running backwards, but the tide reached them when they were on the edge of the dam top. They had no alternative but to jump down, and many others fell.”

Around 40,000 people were watching the tides at Laoyancang.

To ensure tourists’ safety, the Haining City authorities had earlier announced precautionary arrangements, but dozens of people were still injured.

China 'wave' injures tourists at annual event (Reuters)