37 tourists confirmed dead in cruise ship accident in Vietnam
The wreck was salvaged and towed ashore on early on Sunday morning for further investigation.
The ship sank on Saturday afternoon while carrying 48 Vietnamese tourists on a sightseeing tour.
Five crew members were also on board.
Authorities in Quang Ninh province deployed four large vessels and core rescue forces to support the salvage operation.
Rescue teams are now racing to search for missing people as Typhoon Wipha is approaching the area.
The tourist boat (C) that capsized is towed back to the port in Ha Long bay, Quang Ninh province, on Sunday. AFP
Despite a calm sea, rescuers, from police and border guards to divers and navy personnel, were battling limited visibility hours before the expected landfall in northern Vietnam of Typhoon Wipha, which is now approaching Hong Kong.
The government said rescuers had managed to retrieve the sunken boat and revised down the death toll to 35 from an initial 38 on Saturday, while cutting an estimate of those aboard to 49 from 53, though officials fear the toll could still rise.
All the tourists aboard were Vietnamese, including several children, the official Vietnam News Agency said.
"My brother can swim, but I was told everything happened too fast," Tran Trung Tu, 39, whose sibling was 32, told Reuters at a funeral parlour on Sunday.
The accident was one of the worst in recent years in the UNESCO-protected archipelago of thousands of limestone islands about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, which draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.
The sudden thunderstorm turned the sky dark in a matter of minutes, felling trees in the capital of Hanoi, where officials at the Noi Bai international airport said nine flights were diverted and three departures temporarily halted.
"It is the first time I have experienced an accident with so many casualties here," said insurance agent Do Thi Thuy.
A tour boat sank in Halong Bay in 2011, killing 12, with some foreign tourists among them.
The government said the accident was caused by a "sudden" storm. Strong winds, heavy rain and lightning were reported around the time of the event, at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
"I was told life vests were available, but it was too sudden," said Do Van Hai, 42, a Halong resident. "Hopefully, the missing ones will be found soon."
Agencies
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al Etihad
5 hours ago
- Al Etihad
US passenger plane evacuated in Denver due to brake fire
27 July 2025 14:57 WASHINGTON (AFP)Passengers on a US domestic flight were forced to evacuate onto a runway due to a brake fire just ahead of the plane taking off in Denver, the airline Airlines Flight 3023 was departing for Miami on Saturday but 'experienced a mechanical issue' while accelerating ahead of takeoff at Denver International Airport, the airline told AFP, adding all 173 passengers and six crew 'deplaned safely.'One passenger sustained a minor injury and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, American Airlines tires and the deceleration of the plane while braking resulted in an isolated brake fire, which was extinguished by city firefighters, according to the media videos published by US media outlets showed passengers frantically evacuating an American Airlines plane via an emergency slide as smoke billowed from beneath the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement that the crew onboard the Boeing 737 MAX 8 plane 'reported a possible landing gear incident during departure' at around 2:45 pm FAA said it was investigating the occurred just a day after a Southwest Airlines flight plunged mid-air to avoid colliding with another aircraft while en route to Las Vegas, injuring two flight attendants. The latest scare adds to growing concerns over aviation safety in the United States after a string of recent accidents and near misses.
Gulf Today
13 hours ago
- Gulf Today
18 passengers killed in Peru mountain bus crash
A bus plunged into a ravine in the Peruvian Andes on Friday, killing at least 18 passengers, a health official said. The bus, which landed on its roof next to a river, was carrying more than 60 people from the capital Lima to the jungle city of La Merced when it veered off a winding, narrow road, local media reported. "So far we've recorded 18 fatalities from the accident," a spokesperson for health services of the central city of Tarma, 240 kilometres (149 miles) east of Lima, told AFP. The double-decker bus belonging to the company "Expreso Molina Líder Internacional" went off the road and fell down a slope in the district of Palca, Junín region, Junin's health director Clifor Curipaco told reporters. Authorities are still investigating the cause of the accident. Initial reports put the death toll at 15, with 30 injured, but three victims died after being taken to a children were among the dead. Emergency teams were at the scene of the incident. The cause of the crash has not been identified yet. Videos broadcast on local television showed the bus split in two, while firefighters and police tried to rescue the injured. It was not the first fatal bus accident in 2025, another bus fell into a river on Jan. 3, leaving six people dead and 32 injured. Road accidents are a common occurrence in the South American country, due to a combination of speeding and poor road conditions. Police recorded a total of 3,173 traffic-related deaths last year. Agencies
What's On
3 days ago
- What's On
6 GCC wellness retreats within a three-hour flight of Dubai
The residents will attest – Dubai never sleeps. While that means that the city is always pulsating with vibrant, lively energy, creating opportunities for everyone, it also means that slowing down is perhaps a little out of reach. Everyone needs a moment to step back, slow down, disconnect and recharge, and summer is the perfect time for that. These GCC wellness retreats located just a short three-hour flight (or less) away will give you just what you need to relax and rejuvenate. Our Habitas Ras Abrouq, Qatar Our Habitas Ras Abrouq is situated on the Arabian Gulf at the edge of the UNESCO-protected Al-Reem Biosphere Reserve, and offers a slice of dune-laden, Qatari coastline you need to see to believe. With a wide range of villas draped in raw, rustic look and feel, this is one spot you can go to and completely disconnect from city life. While there, you'll be immersed in nature, exploring the sand with their safari experience, eating at their farm-to-table restaurant and living the best of the Qatari music, art and cultural scene. Of course, wellness is a vital part of the Our Habitas brand, and here you'll find tailor-made experiences. @habitasrasabrouq Alila Hinu Bay, Oman Alila Hinu Bay offers the perfect coastal escape just one-hour away from Salalah Airport. Nestled along Oman's pristine coastline, this tranquil resort blends seamlessly with the surrounding natural beauty, offering an experience that emphasizes wellness and relaxation, and the wellness experience here is transformative. Alila Spa offers holistic treatments inspired by traditional Omani healing practices, including massages, facials, and detox therapies, all designed to nurture both body and soul. Guests can enjoy yoga sessions, guided meditation, two saltwater pools, all designed to clear the mind and restore balance. For a truly unique experience, indulge in a private wellness consultation to tailor your stay to your specific needs. @alilahinubay Zulal Wellness Resort, Qatar Zulal Wellness Resort by Shiva-Zom in Qatar offers a pioneering approach inspired by traditional Arabic and Islamic medicine. Set on the northern coast of Qatar, this luxurious wellness haven combines a scenic coastal location with a focus on holistic health and sustainable living. The resort's wellness offerings are extensive, with personalised programs that include fitness, nutrition, mental clarity, and holistic therapies. Highlights include the hydrothermal facilities, a herbal sauna, steam room, and a saltwater pool designed to rejuvenate both body and mind. The treatment menu is inspired by Arabic healing practices, with therapies that incorporate indigenous herbs and oils. @zulalwellnessresort Our Habitas AlUla Complete with 96 villas dotted across the vast desert landscape, rooms at Habitas AlUla are set between manmade dunes for optimum privacy, and many feature epic mountain views from their private terraces. The best way to get around is on an electric bike, and there's something truly freeing about whizzing through the valley that way (although there's buggies too for those looking to give their legs a rest). From yoga and mindfulness, to date seed body scrubs and herbal aromatherapy, Thuraya focuses on centuries-old practices to help clear the path to self-discovery and awaken focus on both our physical and energetic bodies. @habitasalula Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara, Oman Located on the stunning southern coast of Oman, on the lush land of Salalah, Al Baleed Resort Salalah by Anantara is the getaway to Oman, especially in the khareef season – a time travellers from around the world seek out, when the mountain town turns from a desert landscape into a cold, green paradise. The Anantara Spa provides a haven of wellness, featuring a traditional Moroccan hammam, rejuvenating signature treatments, and open-air therapy suites inspired by the natural surroundings. Guests can unwind further with yoga by the shore or explore the tropical flora surrounding the resort's lagoon. @anantarasalalah Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman Six Senses Zighy Bay will transport you into a most perfect harmony of Omani landscape, both the rugged mountains and the shimmering waters. Located just off the UAE border at Dibba, in the Musandam Peninsula, it's been named after a quiet fishing town right next to it, and will push you into an experience that brings that far-flung historic world to life. This is luxury personified, the Omani way. It's perched right at the coast, featuring 82 Omani-style pool villas and a spectacular view of aquamarine expanse – just what you'll need to disconnect from hectic everyday life this summer. @sixsenseszighybay Images: Socials > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
