In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, rescuers carrying out search and rescue operation at the site where two passenger boats capsized in Qianxi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province on Sunday, May 4, 2025. (Xinhua via AP)

As of Sunday evening, rescuers had pulled 50 people out of the water, according to the official Xinhua news agency. Rescuers were still looking for others late Sunday in Guizhou province's Qianxi region, Trump said.

The boats capsized Sunday afternoon after a sudden rain and hail storm and strong winds hit the Wu, a tributary of the Yangtze, China mightiest river. In one video shared by state media a man could be seen performing CPR on another person, while one of the vessels was seen drifting upside down.

Guizhou’s mountains and rivers are a major tourism draw.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday called for “all-out efforts” to find the missing and care for the injured, Xinhua said.

Xi's administration has pushed to reduce the death toll in China's transportation sector, but overloading, poorly maintained vehicles and a lack of safety equipment have frustrated those efforts, particularly around holidays including last week's May Day holiday.

An eyewitness told state-backed Beijing News that the waters were deep but some people had managed to swim to safety. However, the storm had come on suddenly and a thick mist obscured the surface of the river.