Photo courtesy of VN Express

 

In a tragic incident on Sunday, a cruise boat carrying 53 people capsized in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay amid fierce winds, resulting in 34 confirmed fatalities and 11 rescues.

 

The Wonder Sea cruise ship, on board with 48 tourists and five crew members, was navigating the scenic bay when it encountered a sudden storm at around 1:30 p.m. The violent weather caused the vessel to overturn, and by 2:05 p.m., it had lost its GPS signal, according to the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.

 

An urgent rescue operation was launched, involving border guards, the navy, police, port authorities, 27 boats, and two rescue crafts. Despite initial calm seas, conditions soon worsened with heavy rain and low visibility, complicating efforts.

 

By late afternoon, rescue teams had saved 10 individuals and recovered three bodies. A notable rescue included a 14-year-old boy who survived by finding an air pocket in the capsized vessel’s cabin. He was trapped for four hours before rescuers retrieved him through a window.

 

The implications of the event were grave, as most passengers hailed from Hanoi, and notably, over 20 children were on board. Rescue operations continued into the evening as a crane barge attempted to right the capsized ship, but strong currents thwarted diver efforts to secure cables.

 

By 9 p.m., with conditions worsening in Ha Long Bay, authorities reported that six additional bodies had been found, raising the death toll to 34, while eight remained missing. Among the deceased were eight children, casting a somber shadow over the incident.

 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed condolences and dispatched Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to oversee ongoing rescue efforts.

 

The Wonder Sea, constructed in 2015 and licensed to carry 48 passengers, encountered conditions not linked to the approaching Storm Wipha, as clarified by meteorologist Mai Van Khiem. Instead, wind patterns over northern Vietnam spurred unexpected rains.

 

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its beauty and tourist draw, stands scarred by this calamity, a stark reminder of nature's unpredictability amidst human pursuits.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from VN Express 2025-07-22

 

 

Terrible.

Not all perfect in Vietnam.
Was it really safe to do trip at the current weather conditions?