At least eight people were killed after a rising tide swept away more than 30 people in Hangzhou, East China’s Zhejiang Province on August 2.
Thousands of people travelled to Hangzhou each year around August to witness a nature phenomenon, the tidal bore of Qiantang River.
A tidal bore is a tidal wave that travels up a river or narrow bay against the direction of the current. Qiantang’s tidal bore is the world’s largest and could reach up to 9 metres.
Most of the victims were non-locals, as the residents are aware of the danger. The local government has hired personnels to patrol along the river and warn people of the danger of incoming tides, but the advice was heeded unfortunately.
The worst recorded tidal accident at Qiantang was in October 3, 1993, as the tidewater swept away 86 people from the levee, leaving 19 dead and 40 missing.