Tourism Bureau Corrects Latest Information on Fujian River Plunge Incident: 2 Dead, 5 Missing

▲ Fujian bus crash involving Taiwanese tour group: Tourism Bureau revises death toll. (Photo / Sourced from Mainland website)

Reported and compiled by Chen Ruizhong

The Tourism Bureau under the Ministry of Transportation issued a notice at 23:00 on May 23 regarding the bus accident involving a 26-member tour group (May 22–25) from Five Blessings Travel Agency in Mainland China (including the Mainland driver and guide) on May 23. Concerning the search and rescue status of the 7 missing tourists, the original report stated that “they showed no signs of life upon arrival at the hospital.” After contacting Mr. Lin, Director of the Fujian Taiwan Affairs Office, and Mr. Chen, Deputy Director of the Zhangzhou Taiwan Affairs Office, it was confirmed that the bus had been lifted,with only 2 bodies recovered and the other 5 still missing,and search and rescue efforts are ongoing at the site.

The handling Five Blessings Travel Agency has contacted the local ground operator in Mainland China, “Xiamen Zhongyou Tianxia Travel Agency,” to dispatch personnel to the scene and hospitals to manage follow-up matters. Manager Shen Zhiting has accompanied some of the families of the tourists on a Xiamen Airlines flight departing at 19:45 on May 23. Other family members are taking a Mandarin Airlines flight departing at 08:45 on May 24.