A tragic boat capsizing incident in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, resulted in at least 38 fatalities and left five individuals missing, as reported by Vietnamese state media. The tour boat, named Wonder Sea, was on a three-hour excursion with 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized due to severe weather conditions.
The vessel departed on Saturday afternoon, but shortly after setting sail, a sudden storm engulfed the area, bringing strong winds and heavy rain. Survivor Dang Anh Tuan, a 36-year-old fire extinguisher salesman, recounted his harrowing experience to The Associated Press, detailing how passengers requested to return to shore, but the crew insisted they were close to their destination.
“It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned,” Tuan said. He described the chaos as water rushed into the vessel, leading him to lose his sense of direction. In a desperate attempt to survive, he removed his life vest and dove underwater, where he spotted a streak of light that guided him to safety.
Rescue Efforts and Aftermath
Tuan and three others managed to cling to the capsized boat for approximately two hours until the rain subsided and rescuers arrived. Emergency services successfully rescued 11 individuals, although one succumbed to injuries in a hospital shortly after. The VNExpress newspaper reported that a 14-year-old boy was rescued after being trapped in the overturned hull for four hours.
Most passengers on board were tourists from Hanoi, including around 20 children. Tuan was on holiday with 11 university friends; tragically, only three of them survived the disaster. While Tuan suffered only minor cuts, one friend sustained severe head injuries, and another was injured by broken glass while escaping through a window.
Among the deceased were nine members of Tuan’s group, including a man traveling with his wife and three-year-old son, both of whom also drowned. This devastating incident has drawn national attention as authorities continue to search for the missing individuals.
Weather Warnings and Future Risks
As recovery operations proceed, a tropical storm, known as Storm Wipha, is forecasted to approach Vietnam’s northern region next week, potentially impacting the coastline of Ha Long Bay. The severity of the weather during the recent incident has raised concerns about safety protocols for tour operators in the area.
The local community is mourning the loss of life while also grappling with the implications of this tragedy on tourism and safety regulations. As investigations continue, the focus remains on ensuring such accidents are prevented in the future.
