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17 Dead in Duck Boat Accident on Table Rock Lake Near Branson

Branson Convention and Visitor's Bureau
A spring 2013 Ride the Ducks tour in Branson, Mo.

At least 16 passengers and the driver of an amphibious boat on Table Rock Lake near Branson have died after the boat capsized and sank Thursday night.

The Highway Patrol says those that died ranged in age from 1 to 70 years old.

Divers resumed their search of the lake Friday morning. The National Transportation Safety Board says it is sending investigators today. Rader says stormy weather is believed to be what caused the Ride the Ducks boat to capsize last night. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the Branson area Thursday night, and that winds reached speeds of more than 60 mph.

Two adults hospitalized in critical condition are likely to survive, officials say. Cox Medical Center spokeswoman Brandei Clifton says "doctors are confident" about their long term prognosis.

Another duck boat on the lake made it safely back to shore. The City of Branson has set up a small command center at Branson City Hall for survivors and family members. Melody Pettit is a spokesperson for the City of Branson.

“We brought in chaplains. We brought in the Red Cross. The mayor showed up just to hand out some Kleenexes and to offer any support that was necessary during this trying time for them," Pettit said.

City officials planned to hold briefings Friday for family members only at Branson City Hall.  Summer is peak tourism season for the small Ozarks town, known for its theme parks and live music theaters.

Duck boats, which can travel on land and in water, have been involved in other deadly incidents in the past. Five college students were killed in 2015 in Seattle when a duck boat collided with a bus, and 13 people died in 1999 when a duck boat sank near Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Safety advocates have sought improvements since the Arkansas deaths. Critics argued that part of the problem is that too many agencies regulate the boats with varying safety requirements.

Duck boats were originally used by the U.S. military in World War II to transport troops and supplies, and later were modified for use as sightseeing vehicles.

This post will be updated as new information becomes available. Jennifer Moore, Ryan Famuliner, Nathan Lawrence and the Associated Press contributed reporting to this story.