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Holiday turned tragic with over 35 dead
Holiday turned tragic with over 35 dead

Daily Express

time12 hours ago

  • Daily Express

Holiday turned tragic with over 35 dead

Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 By: AFP Text Size: Rescue workers searching for victims after the boat capsized, in this screencap. — AP pic. VIETNAM: Rescuers search­­ed desperately yesterday 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. Advertisement 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. The capsized vessel was later righted by the authorities before being towed away for investigation. 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, said: 'The sky turned dark.' There were 'hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning', he added. 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 Thirty-five bodies had been recovered yesterday and 10 people rescued, 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 board.' 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°C 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 yesterday gaining strength, and is on course to make landfall in Vietnam early this 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. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

Nightmare at holiday spot, over 35 dead
Nightmare at holiday spot, over 35 dead

The Star

time16 hours ago

  • The Star

Nightmare at holiday spot, over 35 dead

Trouble at sea: Tourist boat 'Wonder Sea' is returned to an upright position and towed to a shipyard for investigation after it capsized during a thunderstorm in Ha Long Bay. — AP Rescuers search­­ed desperately yesterday 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. The capsized vessel was later righted by the authorities before being towed away for investigation. 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, said: 'The sky turned dark.' There were 'hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning', he added. Rescued passengers resting in a boat in this screencap from a video footage. — AP 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 Thirty-five bodies had been recovered yesterday and 10 people rescued, 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 board.' 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. Passengers on the capsized boat being rescued in this screencap from a video footage. — AP 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°C 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. Tragic event: Rescue workers searching for victims after the boat capsized, in this screencap. — AP Wipha entered the South China Sea yesterday gaining strength, and is on course to make landfall in Vietnam early this 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

Laos beams with pride as national park gains world heritage status
Laos beams with pride as national park gains world heritage status

The Star

timea day ago

  • The Star

Laos beams with pride as national park gains world heritage status

Hin Nam No National Park in Khammouane Province, Laos, becomes the fourth Unesco World Heritage Site of the country. - Photo: GIZ ProFEB/Paul Williams VIENTIANE: Laos' Hin Nam No National Protected Area was officially inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, sparking excitement across Lao society, with many seeing it as a major milestone in showcasing Laos' rich natural heritage and commitment to protect valuable natural resources. The national park became the country's fourth world heritage site, holding special significance as it forms part of a transboundary extension of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a world heritage site in Vietnam, the first transboundary natural world heritage site shared between Laos and Vietnam. Jenchila, an office worker in the Lao capital Vientiane, expressed deep pride and joy over the announcement. She also praised the efforts of all relevant sectors and officials who made the achievement possible. "For a small country like ours, this is a huge moment. It shows the world that Laos has something truly special to offer, not just in culture, but also in natural beauty and biodiversity. I think every Lao person should feel proud of this achievement," Jenchila told Xinhua on Saturday (July 19). Jenchila also expressed hope that this success would inspire greater efforts to protect other significant natural and cultural sites in Laos, and encourage more global recognition of the country's rich heritage. Khamsavanh, a 27-year-old resident of southern Laos' Savannakhet province, called on the Lao government to promote this achievement more widely, so that people across the country, as well as Lao communities abroad, can recognise its significance. "I hope this recognition becomes a turning point for environmental awareness in Laos," he said. "When I was in school, we learned that Laos has rich natural resources, and I've always hoped that every Lao person keeps that in mind. But to preserve this richness for the long term, we all need to join hands and take responsibility to protect what we have," he added. "I'm truly proud of this achievement and want to thank everyone who worked hard to make it happen," said Nidthida, a resident of Vientiane. She added that officials at all levels and local communities should continue working closely to protect the park through strong conservation measures, education, and active involvement of local people to keep the area safe and healthy. After the park was officially inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site, the news quickly went viral on social media in Laos. Many people shared articles about the achievement and expressed their happiness, pride, and excitement over the recognition. Hin Nam No National Protected Area is a natural marvel that spans an area of 94,121 hectares in southeastern Laos. This biodiverse and stunningly beautiful protected zone shelters some of the planet's most spectacular and mysterious biodiversity, and harbours an array of ecosystems, including pristine forests, majestic waterfalls, and intricate cave systems. The park is home to an incredible range of species, including rare and exotic birds, mammals, reptiles, and plants, and is home to several ethnic minority groups, with their unique traditions, customs, and ways of life. - Xinhua

Maratha bastion in Tamil heartland: Gingee fort's rise to Unesco glory
Maratha bastion in Tamil heartland: Gingee fort's rise to Unesco glory

First Post

timea day ago

  • First Post

Maratha bastion in Tamil heartland: Gingee fort's rise to Unesco glory

Given the manner in which Indian History is interpreted and taught, the period of Maratha domination of the northern region — including of who sat on the Mughal throne — has been systematically played down. Only in recent years has the truth been told about the 18th century period which can be termed 'The Maratha Century', if I may borrow a title of noted Maratha historian Uday Kulkarni. In this context, it is nothing short of stunning that a set of Maratha forts, so key to Shivaji's military strategy, have achieved Unesco World Heritage status. And while it is predictable that forts such as Shivneri, Raigad, Sindhudurg and others in Maharashtra would have been part of the list, what makes it truly impactful is the inclusion of Gingee among those acknowledged. For Gingee, in Tamil Nadu, is far from the Maratha home territory or its extensions in Gujarat or Madhya Pradesh. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Gingee's Rajagiri or Raja fort stands on a huge rock overlooking other structures Located just two hours south of the much-visited temple town of Kanchipuram, Gingee is one of India's most unusual forts and not merely because it has the reputation of being impregnable. The fort at Gingee, sometimes called Senji, is simplistically described as a 'hillfort'. The fort straddles three separate hills and encompasses all the land on top and between these hills. Each hill could function as a self-contained fortress and when combined, a formidable triangular defence network was created. Imagine the plight of an invading force that attempted to assault one hill only to be fired upon from another. But that didn't deter adventurous commanders from attempting an assault. The fort's history is the story of such attempts. Horse stables at Gingee fort, with the Krishnagiri hill, or Rani fort, looming in the background While some accounts hold that a small fortification here was done by the Chola dynasty as early as the 9th century, the widely accepted claim is that the first fort of significance was raised at Gingee in the 1190s. This was done by Ananda Kon, who came from a humble shepherd caste and had managed to subdue local chieftains. While he built a fort on Rajagiri hill — now called Raja hill — it became the nucleus for layer after layer of construction by dynasties across centuries. And with each came temples, mosques, water bodies, palaces, pavilions and to protect all this, longer and thicker walls. A mosque in Gingee fort, possibly from the time the Nawabs of Arcot controlled the fort After the Kons came another dynasty that rose from shepherd stock, the Kurumbars. And then the fort became part of the mighty Vijaynagara kingdom. Its eclipse in 1565 meant that the Nayakas, who until then had been feudatories of Vijaynagara, became independent rulers. It is they who built much of what is seen today at Gingee. And in the 17th century came the Marathas. They gained the fort after a tug of war with the kingdom of Bijapur. And when the Mughal ruler Aurangzeb unleashed his full force against the Marathas in the north Deccan region, Shivaji's second son Rajaram took refuge at Gingee, arriving here in November 1689. Aurangzeb's forces followed him and laid siege to the fort. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A painted icon on a rock while going up Raja hill While Rajaram escaped the invading forces, the Mughal army was in no mood to allow such a powerful fort to remain out of control. The siege was an epic struggle, ranging from use of military force to inducements being offered to Maratha chiefs. And the harrowing struggle for Gingee continued till 1698, when the fort finally fell. Musical chairs continued later at Gingee, with the fort passing through the hands of the Carnatic Nawabs to the French, from them to the British and then to Hyder Ali of Mysore and then back to the British. Two other interregnums are noteworthy. During the time that the fort was with the Kingdom of Bijapur, Elihu Yale — the man after whom the Yale academic institution in the US is named — came to Gingee. He was then an official of the East India Company in what became Madras (now Chennai) and came to Gingee seeking trading rights for the British in the region. He went back unsuccessful. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD View of the countryside from Rani fort The second case was when Gingee lay under Mughal control. Gingee was part of a jagir – land grant – given to a Bundela Rajput chief. His son De Singh inherited the jagir but was forced into a conflict with the Nawab of Arcot. De Singh died in battle and his young wife committed Sati. They left behind legends and folk ballads about love and heroism that are still remembered. Astounding to think of a folk ballad about a Bundela Rajput in the heart of the Tamil countryside. The British did not stay in Gingee for long though. The area around was considered malaria-prone and they shifted their base in the region to Arcot. Gingee's days of glory in history were over. But now, the World Heritage Status has put it once more in the spotlight. Today, when a visitor enters the fort, they see an assortment of buildings in the area between the hills. There is a mosque, a seven-storey high palace called Kalyana Mahal (in the lead picture), an open-air museum with various sculpted remains that could have come from temples long lost, various gateways and pavilions. Powerful walls of the fort, punctuated by bastions, encircle the place. Towering in the background is the hill on which 'Raja fort' stands. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It takes an effort to climb up, and carrying a stout stick to discourage enthusiastic monkeys is a good idea. On the way up, a small shrine appears on the right. This is dedicated to a Goddess who eliminated a demon with a hundred heads. As one keeps ascending the fort, one crosses various landmarks – a Hanuman icon carved on rock, various buildings, cannons and fortified walls, not to forget panoramic views of the fort spreading out below. To reach the inner citadel atop the hill, one needs to cross a small drawbridge. Crossing that while looking at the fort spreading itself out below gives a true sense of what the word 'impregnable' means. And for a moment, you feel sorry for those Mughal troops laying siege for seven long years! At the top of the fort are the Ranganathar Temple, a bell tower and a watch tower. Visible below is the Venkatramana Temple, and at a distance on another hill, the Rani Fort. This fort, which was originally called Krishnagiri, is the second of the three hill citadels that make up Gingee's mighty bastion and has some pavilions and shrines on top. The third is the Chandrayandurg, completing the triangle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Divine icons inside Venkatramana temple, where worship continues The Venkatramana Temple, when viewed from the Raja fort hill The Ranganathar temple atop Raja fort hill In the space between the three hills lies the Venkatramana Temple. When a visitor enters its high gopuram, the structure reminds him of the shrines of Hampi, capital of Vijaynagara. When this author visited the place, the shrine seemed empty and abandoned. And just when I stepped back to leave, a priest carrying a ceremonial lamp emerged from inside, continuing a puja tradition that dates back centuries. It was a moment when time stood still! The author is a heritage explorer with a penchant for seeking obscure sites. A brand consultant by profession, he tweets @HiddenHeritage. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost's views.

Anxious relatives await news from Vietnam wreck rescue as death toll rises to 38
Anxious relatives await news from Vietnam wreck rescue as death toll rises to 38

Straits Times

timea day ago

  • Straits Times

Anxious relatives await news from Vietnam wreck rescue as death toll rises to 38

Find out what's new on ST website and app. The vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized at the Unesco World Heritage site because of sudden heavy rain. Halong Bay, Vietnam - Relatives anxiously sat beside ambulances on the wharf of one of Vietnam's most popular tourist sites on July 20, waiting for news of loved ones who were on a tourist boat that capsized killing dozens. Fruits and flowers were laid on the coast for the 38 killed in the wreckage on July 19 in what some called Halong Bay's worst-ever disaster. 'At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued,' the government said in a statement. The official Vietnam News Agency reported that all the tourists were Vietnamese, including several children. As rescuers worked into July 20 morning to salvage the sunken boat, a handful of people were still missing. The tourist vessel called 'Wonder Sea' had been carrying 53 people, including five crew members and more than 20 children, around the Unesco World Heritage Site, according to state media. Mr Hoang Quang rushed from Hanoi to Quang Ninh province at 2am on July 20 for news of his cousin and her family who were on the boat when it capsized. The couple – a housewife and fruit seller married to a bus driver – had 'tried their best' to afford the trip around the world-famous bay. 'They found the body of (the husband), not my cousin yet,' Mr Hoang told AFP. He was 'so shocked' when he heard news of the incident and immediately went to the wharf with other worried family members. 'Suddenly the victims were my relatives – anyone would be scared. We didn't know what to do, except to keep waiting,' he said. 'We think that as we are all here, she knew and she would show up. We are all so anxious... We just wish and pray for her to come back here to us.' 'Worst accident ever' By early July 20, the wreckage had been towed into the wharf and 11 people had been rescued and taken to a nearby hospital. Security guard Nguyen Tuan Anh spent the night on the wharf where ambulances were waiting to carry the bodies away – a scene he described as 'painful'. 'I don't think I have experienced this scene before. This may be the worst accident ever in Ha Long Bay,' he told AFP, adding it had been 'unpredictable and also I think unpreparable.' 'The whirlwind came so sudden and so big. The wind blew off the framework of a big stage for a grand music show nearby,' he said. Halong 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. Several hundred rescuers including professional divers, soldiers, and firefighters joined the search for survivors through the night and heavy rain, state media said. 'The whirlwind came just so sudden,' a rescue worker, who asked not to be named, told AFP on July 19. 'As the boat turned upside down, several people were stuck inside the cabin. Me and other rescuers pulled up two bodies and rescued one,' he said. 'The accident was so devastating.' AFP

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