At 8:30pm on 5 June, hurricane-force winds on the lower reaches of the Yangtze between Wuhu, Anqing and Jiujiang, caused 12 vessels to capsize and 47 crew members to fall into the river. By the following day, 42 people had been rescued, one was pronounced dead and four missing. Thirty-five vessels and more than 280 people were involved in the rescue operation, which took place in atrocious weather conditions. Efforts are still underway to find the missing people.

The latest reports from the Yangtze River Administration revealed that none of the vessels was carrying dangerous goods and their positions were being closely monitored and publicised to warn passing vessels. Maritime safety authorities are urgently repairing signs and buoys damaged by the winds. They are also planning to recover the sunken vessels.