The death toll from the overturned boat in southwest China's Guizhou Province has risen to 10 while five remain missing, local authorities told China Media Group.

Fifty-seven people were on board when the accident happened at 4:50 p.m. on Saturday in the Zangke River in Zangke Township, Liupanshui City. The boat was designed to carry up to 40 people and most passengers of the overloaded vessel were students in the town. Local media said they met with severe weather in their journey.

Forty-one passengers were rescued, out of which 10 were dead and the other 31 suffered no life-threatening injuries. 

The hull of the overturned boat has been straightened, and search and intensive rescue work is being carried out.

The Ministry of Emergency Management dispatched a working team to the locality to guide the rescue work and local authorities have deployed 17 rescue teams and 155 vehicles into operation.

An investigation into the cause of the accident is underway.