A passenger boat capsized at a resort in Southwest China's Yunnan province on Tuesday, sending 26 people into the water and leaving at least four dead, according to a preliminary report issued by the Ministry of Emergency Management on Wednesday.

The accident occurred at about 3:40 pm on Tuesday, during Spring Festival, in Lianhua village, Chuxiong city, the ministry said in a news release.

The ministry has urged local authorities to verify the number of casualties as soon as possible, make every effort to treat the injured, thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident and hold those responsible to account.

The ministry also called for lessons to be drawn from the incident and for resolute measures to be taken to prevent similar accidents from happening.

The Office of the State Council Work Safety Commission has decided to place the investigation under special supervision and has required authorities in Yunnan to step up the investigation and pursue accountability in accordance with the law, the release said.

The cause of the accident and follow-up work are still underway, it added.