A tragic accident at a waterfall tourism spot in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region has heightened concerns about travel safety during the busy summer season.
On Saturday, one person was killed and 60 others were injured, including one severely, when a conveyor belt-like contraption malfunctioned at an entertainment facility called "The Magic Carpet Project" at the Detian Waterfall site in Daxin county, Chongzuo. The contraption, with two 200-meter belts, was designed to transport travelers from the base of a mountain to a hilltop while offering views of the surrounding landscape.
The local government reported that the connector between the two belt sections broke. That caused the belt to slip and the people on it to tumble down the incline, resulting in multiple injuries and one fatality.
The director of the waterfall site, who is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of the facility, has been detained.
Local authorities have suspended operations at the attraction and are conducting a thorough investigation. The injured are receiving treatment.
Other fatal accidents involving travelers have also occurred recently. In July, three people died and four were injured in a rollover car accident in Hulunbuir, in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. And in June, two travelers drowned in a river in Shiren Canyon, an abandoned site in Taizhou, Zhejiang province.
Li Wenxuan, 36, a jewelry designer from Beijing, said such reports worried her.
"My family traditionally travels during the summer to expose my daughter to new cultures and landscapes," she said. "Despite rigorous planning and doing our best to avoid potentially dangerous events, unforeseen accidents can still happen, especially with the influx of visitors during peak season."
Cai Miao, from travel portal Tuniu, said popular summer activities such as swimming, rafting and snorkeling, particularly in rivers and lakes, carry inherent risks that have been exacerbated by seasonal torrential rains.
Cai advised travelers to book through authorized agencies and purchase insurance. She emphasized the importance of assessing risks and avoiding high-risk activities during summer.
The Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued travel tips last month, advising travelers to monitor weather forecasts to avoid natural disasters such as landslides and floods. The ministry also recommended that travelers engage in outdoor or high-risk activities only if their health permits and to follow the guidance of attraction staff and local authorities in emergencies.
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