Ha Long Bay tragedy: dozens lost as tourist ferry sinks in Vietnam
Boat Capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay: Rescue Efforts and Storm Conditions
On Saturday, a tourist vessel named the “Wonder Sea” overturned in one of Vietnam’s most celebrated UNESCO World Heritage sites, killing 37 passengers and crew. Despite extensive night‑time operations, five individuals remain unaccounted for.
Missing Passengers and Rescue Details
- The vessel carried 48 passengers and five crew members, most of them families from Hanoi with more than 20 children.
- Border guards rescued 11 people and recovered 34 bodies by the evening.
- Three crew members’ bodies were found in the cabin, while rescue teams moved into Sunday morning to locate the five missing individuals.
- A rescued 10‑year‑old boy recounted scrambling to a gap, diving, surfacing, shouting for help, and finally being hauled aboard a soldier‑led boat.
Prime Minister’s Condolences and Officials’ Calls for Investigation
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered condolences to the bereaved families and urged the defence and public security ministries to conduct an urgent search and rescue operation. A government statement added that authorities would investigate and clarify the cause of the incident, strictly handling any violations.
Storm Conditions and Weather Context
Residents in the Ha Long Bay area reported that the sky turned dark at around 2:00 pm, with hailstones the size of toes, torrential rain, thunderstorm, and lightning. Torrential rain also struck northern Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, and Bac Ninh provinces. Strong winds knocked several trees down in the capital, following three days of intense heat with temperatures hitting 37 °C (99 °F) in some areas.
Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, emphasized that the thunderstorms in northern Vietnam were not caused by 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.
Historical Context and Other Recent Maritime Incidents
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing millions of visitors each year to its blue‑green waters and rainforest‑topped limestone islands. 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. This month, a ferry sank off the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali, killing at least 18 people.
