A maritime search and rescue drill was conducted in the Pearl River estuary on Thursday, simulating the collision of a passenger vessel and an oil tanker. (Photo by Zheng Erqi/China Daily)

A maritime search and rescue drill was conducted in the Pearl River estuary on Thursday, simulating the collision of a passenger vessel and an oil tanker.

In the drill, the simulated accident led to a fire on the passenger vessel; some passengers fell overboard; oil was spilled; and the vessels lost control, which threatened a bridge being built nearby.