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17 people dead after 'duck boat' sinks in Missouri lake

Updated 19:25 17 people have drowned after an amphibious "duck boat" capsized and sank in stormy ...
Newstalk
Newstalk

09.49 20 Jul 2018


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17 people dead after '...

17 people dead after 'duck boat' sinks in Missouri lake

Newstalk
Newstalk

09.49 20 Jul 2018


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Updated 19:25

17 people have drowned after an amphibious "duck boat" capsized and sank in stormy weather on a Missouri lake.

31 people were on board when it went down at Table Rock Lake, near Branson, around 7.00pm local time on Thursday.

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Seven people were taken to hospital after the sinking of the "Ride the Ducks" craft.

Wind of 63mph was reported at a nearby airport at the time of the incident, with the US National Weather Service saying it was probably even stronger on the lake due to the open space.

A video posted online showed the boat being rocked by strong waves:

On Thursday night, officials initially reported that at least 8 people had died.

That was later raised to 17 after more bodies were found on Friday.

The New York Times reports that the boat's captain survived, while a second crew member died.

Rescue boats are seen on July 20, 2018 at Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri. Picture by: USA TODAY Network/SIPA USA/PA Images

The duck boats - which can drive on land and also go in the water - are a common site in tourist destinations but there have been a number of deaths involving the vehicles over the years.

Ride the Ducks International, which builds the vehicles, agreed to pay a US$1m fine after one of them hit a bus in Seattle in 2015 and killed five students.

In 2010, two young Hungarian tourists also died when a duck boat stalled in Philadelphia and was hit by a barge.

Critics say their design creates numerous blind spots for drivers, putting people in danger of being hit.


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