Strong Wave Sweeps Away 33 in East China*

The Associated Press
Friday, August 3, 2007; 6:36 AM

BEIJING -- A rising wave in a river known for its strong tides engulfed
33 swimmers and visitors walking along a levee, state media reported
Friday. At least eight were killed.

Three of the people swept away Thursday remained missing, including a
9-year-old child, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. The rest
were rescued, it said.  

Authorities recovered the bodies of five men and three women, Xinhua said.

It said rescue efforts were suspended Friday because of strong winds and
thunderstorms in the area, with more foul weather forecast for Friday
evening.

The Qiantang River in east China's Zhejiang province has long attracted
tourists for its waves, which are sometimes as high as 11 1/2 feet.
Scientists attribute the waves to the river's trumpet-shaped mouth.

The local government has hired people to patrol the river and warn of
the incoming tides, but one "tide shouter" told Xinhua that visitors
often ignore their warnings.

Xinhua said the deadliest accident on the river occurred Oct. 3, 1993,
when 86 people were swept away. Nineteen bodies were recovered and 40
others were never found.