UPDATE: 17 dead after Missouri tour boat capsizes
Posted By: BriAna Campbell
bcampbell@klkntv.com
UPDATE: Missouri Highway Patrol reports 17 people, including children, were killed when a tourist boat capsized on Table Rock Lake Thursday evening.
Several others were injured. The names of the victims have not been released.
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At 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening, a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the Branson, Missouri, area.
30 minutes later, Table Rock Lake turned into a tumultuous nightmare.
A duck boat with 31 passengers aboard capsized during a storm.
The National Weather Service reports winds on the lake were up to 60 mph.
11 people have been confirmed dead, and seven were transported to the hospital with two in critical condition.
The Stone County Sheriff says they’re still searching for more.
"They were coming back towards land, it was actually two ducks, the first one made it out and the second one didn’t. At this time we have probably around 5 people still missing," said Sheriff Doug Rader.
Bystanders captured video of the boat trying to return to land amid the choppy and relentless waters.
Trent Behr of Sioux City, Iowa, is vacationing in Branson, and described the moment staff sprung into action to aid the downed boat.
"All of the sudden we see all the staff just running back and forth with life jackets and AD’s, just trying to do the best they can to try to figure out where this is, or where it went down," said Behr.
Authorities say children are among those deceased.
Dive and rescue teams suspended their search efforts late last night.
They are scheduled to resume looking for the remaining passengers this morning.
