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17 killed as two dragon boats capsize in southern China

The official Xinhua News Agency said eight boats and over 200 people had been deployed to the rescue.

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Two dragon boats that capsized sit in the water on the Taohua River (Chinatopix via AP)

Seventeen people were killed after two dragon boats capsized in southern China, authorities have said.

The boats were practising on Saturday for a race in the Taohua River in the city of Guilin when the accident happened, said the fire department of the city of Guilin, capital of Guangxi region.

It was not immediately clear what caused the boats to capsize.

Rescuers prepare to search for missing boaters (Chinatopix via AP)
Rescuers prepare to search for missing boaters (Chinatopix via AP)

The official Xinhua News Agency said eight boats and over 200 people had been deployed to the rescue.

Two organisers of the practise, from the village of Dunmu, were detained, Xinhua said.

China has sought to step up safety surrounding nationwide dragon boat racing during the Duanwu festival, which falls near the summer solstice and commemorates the death of the poet and minister Qu Yuan in the third century BC.

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