November 15, 2012
Hong Kong to investigate ferry crash
Ferry crash concerns commuters, tourists. "First it was up to here and then here. The water rose so quickly," one woman, who declined to be named, told CNN affiliate i-Cable at the time. "We thought we were going to die for sure."
According to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, which led the rescue, the vessel began to sink quickly after the impact. It said low visibility and many obstacles on board made work difficult for rescuers.
The narrow sea lanes leading into Hong Kong's main deepwater harbor are some of the busiest in Asia, with giant commercial freighters, ocean liners, passenger ferries and private boats of all sizes sharing the waters.
Hong Kong is home to more than 200 outlying Islands, including Lamma. Hong Kong Island is on the south side of Victoria harbor, with Kowloon forming its northern shore. North of Kowloon lie the New Territories, which stretch all the way to mainland China.
