Seven people have died in a tragic accident after the car they were in plunged into a river.

The incident occurred at the Baosha Ferry in the city of Guilin in southern China’s Guangxi Province at approximately 4.30pm on Wednesday, 2nd February.

Footage of the incident shows the car floating on the surface of the river for a few seconds while a man stands on its roof before it sinks into the water, almost completely disappearing.

A boat can be seen making its way over to the car in a bid to rescue the man, who can be seen on the surface of the water. No other people emerge from the vehicle, which appears to completely sink as the footage ends.

The authorities were called and the police and the local fire department went to the scene. A preliminary investigation of the accident established that the driver apparently reversed into the river by accident while waiting for the ferry.

The driver was rescued and brought ashore alive. But the other seven people in the vehicle were all declared dead after being brought ashore lifeless.

The investigation is currently ongoing. It is currently unclear if the driver, who has not been named, has been detained and charged by the authorities.

The names and ages of the people who died in the vehicle had not been released at the time of writing.