Six students and one teacher died on Tuesday after being swept away in a swollen river on a school adventure course in New Zealand's central North Island, according to an official of the Sir Edmund Hillary Outdoor Pursuits Center (OPC) Wednesday.
The students from Elim College, in Howick, were part of a group of 40 on the Mangatepopo River in storm-lashed weather, the head of the OPC said.
The students were canyoning -- which can involve walking, climbing, abseiling and swimming -- down a river near the center when a group of about 10 were separated from the main party, the official said, adding that three managed to escape the water.
The official said that a "rain bomb" hit the river, causing it to rise from 0.5 cubic meter at 03:00 p.m. local time Tuesday (0300 GMT Tuesday) to 18 cubic meters at 03:30 p.m. local time.
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said on Wednesday that she was shocked by the death of seven people and expressed sympathy for their families.
Clark said government agencies will provide whatever assistance and support they could to the families and school community.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article