Thirty-six people are dead and dozens injured after two passenger boats collided in Hong Kong late Monday.

Local officials and police say the accident happened when a boat carrying 124 people chartered by Hong Kong Electric collided with another ferry around 8:20 p.m. Monday off Lamma Island, located some three kilometers from Hong Kong island.

Fire service officials said they pulled 123 passengers from the sinking chartered vessel. They said 28 were declared dead at the scene while eight others were pronounced dead upon arriving at hospitals.

Children were reportedly among the dead from the accident.

A Hong Kong Electric official said the power company had been ferrying 124 passengers and crew to watch fireworks in Victoria Harbor to celebrate China's National Day.