Latest news with #PhamMinhChinh
Gulf Today
2 hours ago
- Climate
- Gulf Today
28 dead, dozens missing as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam
At least 28 people have died and more than a dozen are missing after a tourist boat ferrying families around Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay capsized on Saturday, state media said. The vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized in the UNESCO World Heritage site because of sudden heavy rain, the Dan Tri news site said. Most of those on board were families visiting from the capital Hanoi, with more than 20 children among the passengers, a report on the VNExpress news site. "Border guards rescued 12 people and recovered 18 bodies," it added. Rescue efforts were set to continue into the night to find the dozens still missing. Relief personnel gather around a capsized tourist boat (L) during a search and rescue operation in the Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province. AFP Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his condolences to the families of the deceased and called on the defense 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 statement on the government website said. Tran Trong Hung, a resident in the Ha Long Bay area told AFP: "The sky turned dark at around 2 pm." There were "hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorm and lightning", he said. This image from a video provided by QDND shows people on a rescue boat after their tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay. AP Torrential rain also lashed northern Hanoi, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces on Saturday. In the capital Hanoi, several trees were knocked down by strong winds. The storm followed three days of intense heat, with the mercury hitting 37 degrees Celsius in some areas. Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, was quoted in VNExpress as saying that the thunderstorms in northern Vietnam were not caused by the influence of Tropical Storm Wipha in the South China Sea. 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. Earlier this month, a ferry sank off the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali, killing at least 18 people. Agence France-Presse
The Hill
6 hours ago
- The Hill
At least 35 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam
A tourist boat in Vietnam capsized during a sudden thunderstorm on Saturday, leaving 35 people dead, while four remain missing, according to state media. Ten people survived, including one 10-year-old boy who hid in an air pocket after the ship turned over, local media said. 'Everything happened so fast,' the boy, who was traveling with his parents, told VietnamNet. 'I tried to get out, and then the soldiers rescued me.' State media reported that all 49 people aboard the tourist boat were Vietnamese, including 46 passengers and three crew members. The ship, built in 2015, was on a sightseeing tour of Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island, two popular destinations in Ha Long Bay, known for their scenic views. 'It's the worst accident I've known in Ha Long Bay in the last 25 years,' Bui Cong Hoan, deputy chairman of Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, told The New York Times in a phone interview. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his condolences to the victims' families, and he ordered the ministries of National Defense and Public Security, as well as civil defense workers, to support the search and rescue operations.
SBS Australia
7 hours ago
- SBS Australia
Vietnam tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay, killing at least 35
Three more bodies have been found after a tourist boat capsized in northern Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay, raising the death toll to at least 35. The bodies of three crew members, trapped inside the cabin, had been found, the Department of National Defence Search and Rescue said on Sunday. Among the confirmed dead are eight children. A search is continuing for four who are still missing, according to Vietnamese state media. Authorities said earlier reports of 38 dead and five missing were incorrect. The boat, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, capsized about 2pm on Saturday as Storm Wipha approached the country across the South China Sea. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged authorities to prioritise rescue operations. Ha Long Bay in Vietnam attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Source: PA / Nguyen Van Hai-Barbier Jean Pierre Authorities mobilised 323 personnel for the rescue operation, including border guards, the navy, police and port authorities. Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans over 1,500 sq km and is dotted with nearly 2,000 islands and islets. It is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year. Most of the tourists were from the capital Hanoi, local newspaper VnExpress reported. Rescue teams found 11 survivors, the state-run Vietnam News Agency said citing local authorities. A 14-year-old boy was reportedly among the survivors, and he was rescued four hours after being trapped in the overturned hull. Storm Wipha, the third typhoon to hit the South China Sea this year, is projected to make landfall along Vietnam's northern coast early next week. Weather linked to the storm also disrupted air travel. Noi Bai Airport said nine arriving flights were diverted to other airports and three departing flights were temporarily grounded on Saturday.
IOL News
8 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
Borneo Post
9 hours ago
- Climate
- Borneo Post
Dozens dead in Vietnam after Ha Long Bay tourist ferry sinks
The tourist boat (centre) that capsized is towed back to the port in Ha Long bay, Quang Ninh province on July 20, 2025. – AFP photo HALONG BAY, Vietnam (July 20): Rescuers searched desperately Sunday for four people still missing after at least 35 were killed when a boat capsized at one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations. The tourist boat ferrying families around Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay was lashed by a sudden storm Saturday in one of the deadliest disasters at the UNESCO World Heritage site. The vessel 'Wonder Sea' was carrying 46 passengers and three crew when it capsized because of sudden heavy rain, according to a provincial police report seen by AFP. Previous state media reports had said that 53 people were on board and 37 people had died, but the figures were later revised by police. Tran Trong Hung, a resident in the Ha Long Bay area, told AFP: 'The sky turned dark.' There were 'hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning', he said. Most of those on board were families visiting from the capital, Hanoi, with more than 20 children among the passengers, state media outlet VNExpress said 35 bodies had been recovered and 10 people rescued by Sunday, police said, with four people still missing. One of the rescued, a 10-year-old boy, told state media outlet VietnamNet: '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'. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent his condolences on Saturday to relatives of those killed 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. Torrential rain also lashed northern Hanoi, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces on Saturday. Several trees were knocked down in the capital by strong winds. The storm followed three days of intense heat, with the mercury hitting 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas. Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, was quoted in VNExpress as saying that the thunderstorms in northern Vietnam were not caused by the influence of Tropical Storm Wipha in the South China Sea. Wipha entered the South China Sea on Sunday gaining strength, and is on course to make landfall in Vietnam early next week. 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. And this month, a ferry sank off the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali, killing at least 18 people. – AFP boat capsize fatal accident Ha Long Bay tourists
