Tragedy Strikes in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay: 34 Dead, 8 Missing in Boat Accident

A tourist boat carrying 53 people capsized on Saturday in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, resulting in at least 34 deaths and eight missing individuals, as reported by AP citing state media.

11 people were rescued by the local newspaper VNExpress. Quang Ninh provincial authorities stated that the Wonder Sea cruise boat overturned around 1:45 p.m. near Dau Go Cave, with 48 tourists and 5 crew members, including families with children on board.

Authorities have saved 12 people, while 23 are still missing. The boat capsized due to strong winds, according to officials.

Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, mentioned that the ongoing rains in northern Vietnam were not related to Storm Wipha from the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an urgent dispatch after the capsizing of the Vinh Xanh 58 tourist service boat, instructing relevant ministries and agencies to conduct search and rescue operations swiftly and effectively, as reported by Vietnamplus.

Ha Long Bay, spanning over 1,500 square kilometers and featuring nearly 2,000 islands, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site attracting millions of visitors annually, as per VNExpress.

In a previous incident in 2024, 30 vessels sank in coastal Quang Ninh province due to strong winds and waves from deadly Typhoon Yagi.

According to the source: Mint.