8 Ship Collisions As China's Smog Blankets Hong Kong Harbor

[hatrack]

HONG KONG — Unusually high air pollution shrouded Hong Kong in thick brownish haze on Thursday, obscuring the skyline and cutting visibility so much that eight ships were involved in collisions in the territory's waters.

One sailor fell off a Chinese container ship that hit a larger cargo vessel, but he was plucked safely from the sea by rescuers aboard a marine police launch. The wreck left a hole in the smaller ship and five of its containers plunged into the waters off the suburban Tuen Mun area, said Marine Department spokesman Thomas Cheng.

Six other ships had minor collisions near the outlying island of Ma Wan, and a pilot boat ran aground close to Hong Kong Island, but no injuries were reported, he said.

EDIT

Hong Kong's government warned people with heart and respiratory conditions to avoid staying outdoors."

EDIT/END

http://www.enn.com/news/2004-08-20/s_26633.asp

[Massacure]

1. I wonder if China's government will act on this...