At Least Thirteen People Dead After Duck Boat Capsizes On Missouri Lake During Thunderstorm

Evie Fordham

At least 13 people, including children, are dead after a duck boat on a lake in southern Missouri capsized during a sudden thunderstorm on Thursday night.

There were 31 people on board the boat when it sank, reported CNN. There were 14 survivors including the boat captain, said Stone County Sheriff Doug Rader. Four people were unaccounted for as search operations resumed on Friday morning.

Police believe there were life jackets on the boat.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, appeared on CNN’s “New Day” to discuss the tragedy that occurred near the popular tourist town of Branson, Missouri, on Friday morning.

“There are still people in the water,” he said.

The duck boat set out on Table Rock Lake while skies were still clear. Then a storm “came out of nowhere,” said Jim Pattison Jr., who is president of the company that operates Ride the Ducks Branson, according to CNN.

He spoke on CNN’s “New Day” on Friday morning.

“[We] will be closed for business while we support the investigation, and to allow time to grieve for the families and the community,” said Ride the Ducks in a Facebook post Friday morning.

Two of the company’s duck boats were on the lake when high winds started blowing. One made it back safely, and one did not. A severe thunderstorm warning had been issued about 30 minutes before the boat capsized.

Winds reached 63 mph in the area, taking down trees and damaging buildings, reported CNN.

This post has been updated with more information.

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