A man has been arrested and three others are under investigation after 17 people drowned in a dragon boat accident in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local prosecutors said.

Li Changdi, a villager and publicly elected commander of the dragon boat team in Dunmu Village, was arrested by the procuratorate in Xiufeng District of Guilin City.

Li, along with others, organized the dragon boat activity without consent of local government authorities, the procuratorate said.

Li was arrested on charges of causing a major accident, prosecutors said. Organizers of the dragon boat race failed to anticipate the risks of passing the dam and did not have safety training.

On April 21, 17 people died after two dragon boats overturned when trying to pass over a rubber dam on the Taohuajiang River. Most of the victims drowned due to a powerful current near the dam.

The boats were 18 meters long with a capacity of 30 passengers each. About 60 people fell into the water.

Further investigation is under way.

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