Search continues for five missing after deadly capsizing in Ha Long Bay that claimed 38 lives
Image: Supplied
Desperate rescue efforts are underway in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay as officials search for five individuals still missing after the capsizing of a tourist boat that has claimed at least 38 lives.
The incident occurred on Saturday when the vessel, identified as "Wonder Sea," was ferrying families around one of Vietnam's premier tourist hotspots, amidst a sudden, furious storm.
Witnesses described the alarming weather conditions that engulfed the area, as Tran Trong Hung, a local resident, recounted, "The sky turned dark," and added that hailstones the size of toes fell alongside torrential rain, thunderstorms, and lightning.
The vessel, carrying 48 passengers and five crew members, capsized during the storm, leading to one of the deadliest maritime disasters at the renowned UNESCO World Heritage site.
By Saturday evening, authorities had rescued 11 individuals and recovered 34 bodies. Sadly, overnight operations yielded more grim news, with the bodies of three crew members located inside the cabin of the wrecked boat.
The death toll now stands at 38, following the passing of one of the rescued victims in a hospital on Sunday.
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Among the fortunate survivors was a 10-year-old boy, who shared his harrowing experience: "I took a deep breath, swam through a gap, dived then swam up, I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat with soldiers on."
His story exemplifies the narrow escapes many faced during the chaotic moments before the boat sank.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed condolences to the grieving families and urged both the defence and public security ministries to accelerate the search and rescue operations.
The government has promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, ensuring that any violations will be dealt with strictly.
In addition to the chaos triggered by the storm, torrential rains wreaked havoc in northern Hanoi along with Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces.
Reports indicated that several trees were uprooted in the capital due to strong winds. Interestingly, the director of the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting clarified that the thunderstorms were not directly caused by the influence of Tropical Storm Wipha, which has now entered the South China Sea, gaining strength and is poised to make landfall in Vietnam early next week.
Ha Long Bay is cherished for its stunning blue-green waters and the majestic limestone islands that dot its landscape, attracting millions of visitors each year.
However, this is not the first maritime incident in recent memory; last year, 30 vessels sank in coastal Quang Ninh province after Typhoon Yagi unleashed strong winds and waves.
Earlier this month, a similar disaster occurred near Bali, Indonesia, where a ferry sank, resulting in at least 18 fatalities.
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20 hours ago
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Boy survives Ha Long Bay boat tragedy by sheltering in air pocket
Among the survivors is a 10-year-old boy who miraculously sheltered in an air pocket, waiting for rescue. Vietnamese authorities continue search and recovery operations in Ha Long Bay after the capsizing of a tourist boat killed at least 37 people and left others missing. Among the survivors is a 10-year-old boy who managed to stay alive by sheltering in an air pocket within the overturned vessel. The boy, whose name has not been released, was travelling with family on the 'Wonder Sea', a sightseeing boat popular among domestic tourists. As reported by VietnamNet, the vessel was caught in a violent squall that caused it to flip near the famous Dau Go Cave. Trapped underwater, the child found a small air pocket where he waited for rescue. 'Everything happened so fast,' the boy later said. 'I tried to get out, and then the soldiers rescued me.' Rescue teams discovered the boy alive and conscious but in a state of shock. He was immediately warmed, treated for mental distress, and transported to a nearby hospital. Efforts to locate the remaining missing passengers and crew have been hampered by poor weather conditions. The 'Wonder Sea' was carrying 53 people at the time of the incident, many of whom were families from Hanoi. The boat was caught in the storm around 1:30pm local time. The vessel was towed to port the following day, visibly damaged. Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its stunning limestone islands, is one of Vietnam's most visited tourist attractions. This tragedy has sparked renewed scrutiny of safety measures for cruise operators, especially during unpredictable seasonal weather. Authorities have not yet provided further updates on potential causes or accountability but have vowed a full investigation. IOL News
IOL News
20 hours ago
- IOL News
Search continues for five missing after deadly capsizing in Ha Long Bay that claimed 38 lives
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam 38 were killed when a boat capsized at one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, Ha Long Bay Image: Supplied Desperate rescue efforts are underway in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay as officials search for five individuals still missing after the capsizing of a tourist boat that has claimed at least 38 lives. The incident occurred on Saturday when the vessel, identified as "Wonder Sea," was ferrying families around one of Vietnam's premier tourist hotspots, amidst a sudden, furious storm. Witnesses described the alarming weather conditions that engulfed the area, as Tran Trong Hung, a local resident, recounted, "The sky turned dark," and added that hailstones the size of toes fell alongside torrential rain, thunderstorms, and lightning. The vessel, carrying 48 passengers and five crew members, capsized during the storm, leading to one of the deadliest maritime disasters at the renowned UNESCO World Heritage site. By Saturday evening, authorities had rescued 11 individuals and recovered 34 bodies. Sadly, overnight operations yielded more grim news, with the bodies of three crew members located inside the cabin of the wrecked boat. The death toll now stands at 38, following the passing of one of the rescued victims in a hospital on Sunday. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Among the fortunate survivors was a 10-year-old boy, who shared his harrowing experience: "I took a deep breath, swam through a gap, dived then swam up, I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat with soldiers on." His story exemplifies the narrow escapes many faced during the chaotic moments before the boat sank. In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed condolences to the grieving families and urged both the defence and public security ministries to accelerate the search and rescue operations. The government has promised to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, ensuring that any violations will be dealt with strictly. In addition to the chaos triggered by the storm, torrential rains wreaked havoc in northern Hanoi along with Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces. Reports indicated that several trees were uprooted in the capital due to strong winds. Interestingly, the director of the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting clarified that the thunderstorms were not directly caused by the influence of Tropical Storm Wipha, which has now entered the South China Sea, gaining strength and is poised to make landfall in Vietnam early next week. Ha Long Bay is cherished for its stunning blue-green waters and the majestic limestone islands that dot its landscape, attracting millions of visitors each year. However, this is not the first maritime incident in recent memory; last year, 30 vessels sank in coastal Quang Ninh province after Typhoon Yagi unleashed strong winds and waves. Earlier this month, a similar disaster occurred near Bali, Indonesia, where a ferry sank, resulting in at least 18 fatalities. DAILY NEWS
eNCA
a day ago
- eNCA
Dozens dead in Vietnam after Ha Long Bay tourist ferry sinks
HANOI - Rescuers were desperately searching for five people still missing on Sunday after 37 were killed when a boat capsized in one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations. The tourist boat ferrying families around Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay was lashed by a storm on Saturday in one of the UNESCO World Heritage site's deadliest disasters. The "Wonder Sea" vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized because of sudden heavy rain, the VNExpress news site said. Most of those on board were families visiting from the capital Hanoi, with more than 20 children among the passengers, it said. Border guards had rescued 11 people and recovered 34 bodies by Saturday evening, it added. Overnight, three crew members' bodies were found in the cabin and rescue efforts continued into Sunday morning to find the five people still missing. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his condolences on Saturday to the families of the deceased and called on the defence and public security ministries to conduct urgent search and rescue. Authorities would "investigate and clarify the cause of the incident and strictly handle violations", a government statement said. Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, with millions of people visiting its blue-green waters and rainforest-topped limestone islands each year. Last year, 30 vessels sank at boat lock areas in coastal Quang Ninh province along Ha Long Bay after Typhoon Yagi brought strong wind and waves.
