Authorities have launched an investigation into a boat collision in which two people were killed and 14 others went missing in Huaihua, Hunan province, officials said on Wednesday.

The collision occurred after two boats collided on a river at around 10:26 am on Tuesday when a garbage recycling vessel rear-ended a passenger boat in Yuanling county, Huaihua Mayor Li Chunqiu said at a news conference.

The crash caused the passenger boat, which had 19 people aboard, to capsize. Three people were rescued with non-life-threatening injuries, while 14 remain unaccounted for. The garbage vessel sailed back to shore, with all three of its occupants unharmed, Li said.

Authorities have launched an investigation, and police are questioning four individuals — three from the garbage vessel and one from the passenger vessel.

The garbage boat involved in the collision has remained docked since the incident.

More than 200 professional rescuers have been deployed for underwater search and rescue operations, with additional personnel en route to the scene.

"We will not give up hope and will do everything possible to minimize the loss," Li said.

The river where the accident occurred is about 500 meters wide, with an average depth of 60 to 82 meters, and has a strong current, making search and rescue efforts challenging, said Xiang Minghua, deputy director of Huaihua's emergency management bureau.

A shortage of underwater robots and deep-water divers has further complicated operations, prompting authorities to request specialized assistance from Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces as well as Chongqing, Xiang said.

Ten professional rescue teams from Hunan have arrived at the site, with three more from other regions expected to join the efforts on Wednesday.

Local authorities have set up teams to support the families of the deceased and the missing, Yi Zhonghua, head of the Yuanling county government, said.

The families have been provided accommodations near the accident site.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and the Ministry of Transport have dispatched a joint working team to Hunan to guide rescue efforts.

The Ministry of Emergency Management has also dispatched a national water emergency rescue team with sonar and diving equipment to the scene to aid rescue work, determine the cause of the incident and work to prevent a similar event from occurring again.

The Office of the Work Safety Committee of the State Council has placed the investigation under its direct supervision.

zoushuo@chinadaily.com.cn