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Macau high-speed ferry accident leaves more than 120 hurt in waters off Hong Kong

Associated Press
Published | Updated

An injured passenger of a high-speed ferry is escorted by rescuers to a hospital after getting on shore in Hong Kong Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. More than 120 people were injured when the ferry traveling from the Asian gambling hub of Macau to Hong Kong slammed into an object floating in the water, authorities said Monday. (Apple Daily via AP) HONG KONG OUT, TAIWAN OUT (The Associated Press)

An injured passenger of a high-speed ferry is escorted by rescuers to a hospital after getting on shore in Hong Kong Monday, Oct. 26, 2015. More than 120 people were injured when the ferry traveling from the Asian gambling hub of Macau to Hong Kong slammed into an object floating in the water, authorities said Monday. (Apple Daily via AP) HONG KONG OUT, TAIWAN OUT (The Associated Press)

Hong Kong authorities say more than 120 people were injured when a high-speed ferry coming from the Asian gambling hub of Macau slammed into an object in the water.

Firefighters said the hydrofoil carrying 163 passengers and 11 crew hit an unidentified object off a small island in Hong Kong's western waters Sunday evening.

The Hospital Authority said 124 people were hurt, 5 of them critically.

TV news channels showed passengers, some with bandages on their heads, arriving at a pier and being taken to waiting ambulances.

It's the fourth accident in two years on the hour-long ferry route between the coastal Chinese territories of Macau and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong suffered its biggest maritime tragedy in 2012 when a boat and commuter ferry collided, killing 39 people.