On Monday night, a passenger ferry and a smaller boat collided near Lamma Island, off the southwestern coast of Hong Kong, causing the smaller vessel to partially sink and killing 38 holiday revelers, including five children. The large passenger ferry, called the Sea Smooth, was a company boat taking more than 120 employees of Hongkong Electric Co. and their family members to Victoria Harbor to view fireworks celebrating the mid-autumn festival and China's National Day. Hong Kong police have launched an investigation, arresting six crew members from both vessels today.
Ferry Disaster in Hong Kong
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A partially submerged boat is stabilized by the crane of another vessel after it collided with a ferry Monday night near Lamma Island, off the southwestern coast of Hong Kong Island, on October 2, 2012. The boat packed with revelers on a long holiday weekend collided with a ferry and sank off Hong Kong, killing at least 37 people and injuring dozens, authorities said. #
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Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, in Hong Kong on October 1, 2012. The anniversary is also known as National Day. This is the event passengers aboard the Lamma IV had sailed to view. #
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Rescuers check on the half submerged Lamma IV, after it collided Monday night near Lamma Island, on October 2, 2012. Authorities rescued 101 people after the collision. #
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Search and rescue teams search the waters around the partially submerged Lamma IV (center) off Hong Kong's Lamma island, on October 2, 2012, the morning after it collided with a Hong Kong ferry killing 37 people. #
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A relative cries as she leaves a public mortuary holding the bodies of those who died in a boat accident near Yung Shue Wan on Lamma Island, on October 2, 2012 in Hong Kong. #
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The Sea Smooth ferry with its bow badly damaged sits docked at the Lamma Island pier on October 2, 1012 following a collision with the Lamma IV in Hong Kong waters late on October 1. #
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Relatives of the victims throw paper money Tuesday, October 2, 2012 as they pay tribute to the ill-fated people aboard the Lamma IV that sank Monday night near Lamma Island. #
AP Photo/Vincent Yu -
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