Two passenger boats capsized in a river in southwest China's Guizhou Province on Sunday, leaving three people dead and 14 others missing, according to local authorities
The accident occurred in Liuchong River of Qianxi City at around 16:00 Sunday afternoon amid a heavy rainstorm. A total of 60 people have been hospitalized for treatment.
Efforts to locate and rescue the missing passengers are underway.
The provincial firefighting authority has dispatched eight search and rescue teams consisting of 248 people, with 16 underwater robots and 24 rescue boats, to the scene.
President Xi Jinping has urged all-out efforts to search and rescue the missing passengers, treat the injured people, and resolutely curb the occurrence of major safety accidents.
Two passenger boats capsize in Guizhou
Two passenger boats capsize in Guizhou
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned on Sunday that Tehran would view the United States and Israel's military bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" should Washington take military action against Iran.
At a parliamentary session convened to review an emergency proposal on assembly regulations, Qalibaf emphasized that, at this highly sensitive juncture, Iran must accurately and thoroughly identify the schemes of its adversaries.
Qalibaf said that Iran is currently confronting Israel and the United States simultaneously on four fronts: economic, cognitive, military, and counterterrorism. Of them, the economic warfare and the cognitive and psychological warfare began many years ago and have persisted to this day, growing increasingly complex and intense in recent years.
The remarks came as U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran, taking advantage of its nationwide unrest.
Protests have erupted in several Iranian cities since late December over the sharp fall of the rial and long-standing economic hardship. Iranian authorities have acknowledged the demonstrations and voiced willingness to address economic grievances, while warning against violence and vandalism.
Amid the ongoing protests, deadly clashes have been reported lately between police and what the government described as "rioters." However, no official death toll has been released.
Also on Sunday, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian will address the country's economic situation and political environment in a televised interview later that day.
Iran swears to counterattack if attacked
