Latest news with #touristtragedy
ABC News
4 days ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Ha Long Bay capsized tour boat survivor says he 'saw a streak of light' as he describes his escape
A 36-year-old Vietnamese man who survived the capsizing of a tour boat in Ha Long Bay has described his escape from the overturned vessel, stating that he "saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out". At least 35 people were killed in the accident and a search is continuing for four who are still missing, according to Vietnamese state media. Authorities said that an earlier report of 38 dead and five missing was incorrect. The Wonder Sea embarked early Saturday afternoon for a three-hour excursion in Ha Long Bay, a popular tourist destination, carrying 46 passengers and three crew. But a storm quickly covered the sky, bringing high winds and pouring rain, survivor Dang Anh Tuan said. Mr Tuan said the passengers asked for the boat to turn back to shore, but the crew reassured them they were almost at their destination and kept the boat moving forward. "It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned," the 36-year-old fire extinguisher salesman said. "Water gushed in and I lost all orientation. "I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. "I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help." Mr Tuan and several other people survived by clinging on to the capsized boat and its propellers, waiting another two hours before the rain stopped and rescuers arrived. The Wonder Sea boat was later seen being towed to a shipyard for investigation, with most of its windows shattered, and damage to its roof and handrails. Police and other officials were seen working on the boat. Rescue workers recovered 11 survivors, but one later died in hospital due to injuries, VNExpress newspaper said. The boat turned upside down because of strong winds, the newspaper said. A 14-year-old boy was rescued after four hours trapped in the overturned hull. The newspaper said that most of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including about 20 children. Mr Tuan was on a holiday with 11 university friends, only three of whom survived. Mr Tuan has only minor cuts, but one of his friends suffered multiple injuries in his head and the other's tendons were cut by broken glass as he escaped the boat through a window. The other nine members of the group were killed, including one who was travelling with his wife and three-year-old son. A tropical storm is also moving toward the area. A national weather forecast said that Storm Wipha is expected to hit Vietnam's northern region next week, including Ha Long Bay's coast. AP
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Death toll rises in Vietnam tour boat disaster, officials say
STORY: ::The death toll in a tourist boat accident climbs to dozens, Vietnamese officials say :: July 20, 2025 ::Halong Bay, Vietnam Video from Vietnam Television (VTV) showed search and rescue efforts continuing overnight, with rescuers flipping the capsized boat upright and calling out for survivors. The vessel capsized on Saturday afternoon, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, in one of the worst boating accidents in recent years in the popular tourist area. The official Vietnam News Agency reported that several children were among the tourists, who were all Vietnamese. The government said in a statement, at least 10 people had been rescued and that the sunken boat had been retrieved. Authorities reported strong winds, heavy rainfall and lightning in the area at the time of the incident, adding that these conditions were not yet influenced by the approaching typhoon but were due to wind patterns over the northern region.
Times of Oman
4 days ago
- Times of Oman
Vietnam: Tourist boat capsizes, 34 dead
A tourist boat in Vietnam capsized on Saturday, leaving 34 people dead and several others missing. The vessel was carrying 53 people, when it capsized while doing a tour of northern Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay. Most of the passengers were tourists from the capital Hanoi, local media said. Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which spans over 1,500 square kilometers (579 square miles). It is filled with nearly 2,000 islands and islets and is considered one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year. What happened to the boat? The vessel, dubbed Wonder Sea, was carrying 48 tourists and five crew members at the time of the capsizing, including families with children, VNExpress news outlet reported. Sudden stormy weather landed in Ha Long Bay, with heavy rain and strong winds that appear to have caused the Wonder Sea to overturn. People on a capsized tourist boat being rescued in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam on Saturday, July 19, 2025. There were "hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorm and lightning", Ha Long Bay office worker Tran Trong Hung told the French AFP news agency. What do we know about the victims? Rescuers recovered 34 bodies on site. Some 11 people were rescued, while eight are still missing. Among those confirmed dead were eight children, VNExpress reported. The news outlet said a 14-year-old boy was among the survivors. He was rescued four hours after being trapped in the overturned hull. Authorities would "investigate and clarify the cause of the incident and strictly handle violations", a statement on the government website said.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Several dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam
Twenty-eight people have died after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam in bad weather, according to local reports. At least 14 people are said to be missing following the incident in Halong Bay, a popular tourist destination in the north of the country, the reports say. Most of the passengers were reportedly Vietnamese visiting from Hanoi. Heavy rain has been hindering the search for survivors, rescuers say. This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version. You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on X to get the latest alerts.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
At least 28 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay
A tourist boat carrying over 50 people capsized in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay amid heavy rain, killing at least 28 and leaving dozens missing. Most passengers onboard were families from Hanoi, including many children, according to local media. Rescue efforts are underway at the popular UNESCO World Heritage site. At least 28 people have died and dozens are missing after a tourist boat carrying more than 50 capsized Saturday in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, state media said. The vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized because of sudden heavy rain as it toured the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Dan Tri news site said. "On the afternoon of July 19, the Wonder Sea tourist boat carrying 53 people capsized. Vietnamese Border Guards and navy rescued 11 people and recovered 28 bodies," VNExpress news site reported. Most of those on board were families visiting from the capital Hanoi, with more than 20 children among the passengers, VNExpress 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 being pounded by strong wind and waves brought by deadly Typhoon Yagi. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)
