On Saturday, a tourist boat ferrying 48 passengers along with five crew members capsized in Ha Long Bay, located in Vietnam’s northeastern Quang Ninh Province. State media reports that the incident occurred due to a sudden and severe thunderstorm, resulting in high waves that overturned the boat, leading to a tragic death toll of at least 34 individuals.
Among those lost were eight children, while emergency responders, including naval commandos, managed to rescue 10 individuals from the water. One of the survivors was a young boy who endured several hours in the turbulent sea. Local authorities described the incident as the worst maritime accident in Ha Long Bay in 25 years, highlighting the severity of the tragedy.
Bui Cong Hoan, the deputy chairman of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, provided grim commentary on the incident, revealing that all aboard were Vietnamese nationals. Reports detail a particularly heartbreaking account of one family consisting of two parents and their two children, with only the mother surviving.
In the wake of the disaster, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has mobilized civil defense and security forces to assist in ongoing rescue efforts. The ill-fated boat was returning from excursions to Dau Go and other renowned caves when adverse weather conditions struck. With over 1,600 islands in the region, Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination, frequently serviced by numerous vessels.
This tragic incident underscores growing concerns regarding safety in Vietnam's tourist sector, especially following a recent incident where 17 tourists perished in a separate capsizing. The dangers facing tourists in the region have prompted calls for stricter regulations and improved safety measures on the water.
Among those lost were eight children, while emergency responders, including naval commandos, managed to rescue 10 individuals from the water. One of the survivors was a young boy who endured several hours in the turbulent sea. Local authorities described the incident as the worst maritime accident in Ha Long Bay in 25 years, highlighting the severity of the tragedy.
Bui Cong Hoan, the deputy chairman of the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, provided grim commentary on the incident, revealing that all aboard were Vietnamese nationals. Reports detail a particularly heartbreaking account of one family consisting of two parents and their two children, with only the mother surviving.
In the wake of the disaster, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has mobilized civil defense and security forces to assist in ongoing rescue efforts. The ill-fated boat was returning from excursions to Dau Go and other renowned caves when adverse weather conditions struck. With over 1,600 islands in the region, Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular tourist destination, frequently serviced by numerous vessels.
This tragic incident underscores growing concerns regarding safety in Vietnam's tourist sector, especially following a recent incident where 17 tourists perished in a separate capsizing. The dangers facing tourists in the region have prompted calls for stricter regulations and improved safety measures on the water.
