A tourist boat carrying families capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province Vietnam, following a storm winds on Saturday afternoon, killing 34 people, according to state media, as rescuers search for missing people.
The Wonder Sea tourist boat
At 12:55 p.m., the Wonder Sea tourist boat, carrying 48 tourists and 5 crew members, was sailing through Ha Long Bay. Around 1:30 p.m., it was suddenly struck by a storm, causing it to tilt and overturn. By 2:05 p.m., the vessel had lost its GPS signal, according to the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.
A thunderstorm accompanied by lightning.
Tran Trung Hung, who works in the Ha Long Bay office, said the storm began in the afternoon and “darkness fell around 2:00 p.m.” (7:00 GMT). He added, “Hail was the size of fingers, torrential rain fell, and there was a thunderstorm accompanied by lightning.”
Most of the passengers were from Hanoi,
By 7 p.m., authorities said two more survivors and three more bodies had been found. This brought the total survivors to 12 and confirmed deaths to five, with 36 people still missing. Most of the passengers were from Hanoi, traveling as families, including over 20 children. The oldest passenger was 53, and the youngest just 3.
At the site of the capsized ship
At the site of the capsized ship, Bui Cong Hoan, deputy head of the Ha Long Cruise Ship Association, recounted witnessing a 14-year-old boy survive after being trapped inside the sunken cabin for four hours.
27 boats and two rescue crafts
Authorities mobilized border guards, the navy, police, port authorities, along with 27 boats and two rescue crafts to the scene. A command center was also established to coordinate search and rescue efforts.
Rescue teams were divided into several groups. One team of divers searched inside the capsized ship’s cabin, while another surrounded the site of the capsized vessel, using specialized equipment to search for victims.
Although the sea had calmed, heavy rain and nightfall limited visibility, making rescue operations difficult. By 5 p.m., Quang Ninh’s border guards said 10 people had been rescued from the Wonder Sea, and three bodies had been recovered.
As of 8:45 p.m., according to the Navy Command, 28 bodies had been recovered, including 8 children, and 11 people had been rescued, down from the initially reported 12. Fourteen people are still missing.
Ha Long Bay, spanning over 1,500 square kilometers and dotted with nearly 2,000 islands, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws millions of international and domestic visitors each year.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered his condolences to the families of the victims and instructed the Ministries of Defense and Public Security to carry out urgent search and rescue operations.
A government statement on its website said that authorities “will investigate the circumstances of the incident to clarify the facts and deal strictly with any violations.”
VNĐ25 million per deceased victim
Initially, Quảng Ninh Province provided support of VNĐ25 million (nearly $1000) per deceased victim and VNĐ8 million ($300) per injured victim. The authorities also arranged accommodation and covered all living expenses for the victims’ families during their stay in Quảng Ninh. — VNS
Registration certificate of ship
According to the inland waterway registration certificate issued by the Quang Ninh Department of Construction, the ship was built in 2015. It measures 24 meters in length, has a load capacity of 12 tons and is licensed to carry 48 passengers. In January 2025, the ship was issued a certificate of technical safety and environmental protection for inland waterway vessels.
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Sources :Vietnam Media
