HALONG BAY, QUANG NINH – A tragic accident occurred in Halong Bay, a popular tourist destination in Vietnam, on Saturday when a sightseeing ship capsized in a squall. Rescue forces, including divers, have been working tirelessly to search for the missing passengers and crew.
According to the latest updates, at least 34 bodies have been found and another 11 people have been rescued alive.
As of early Sunday morning (local time), search and rescue efforts were still underway for those who remain missing, according to the news outlet Vietnamnet.
The newspaper VN Express reported that the vessel involved, named the Wonder Sea, was carrying a total of 53 people, including 48 tourists and 5 crew members. The nationalities of the victims have not yet been officially announced.
In an interview with Vietnamnet, Mr. Dinh Khac Giong, a 64-year-old diver at the scene, stated that most of the ship's passenger area has been searched. However, the cockpit and engine room are stuck in mud, making access difficult.
"As of now, I am certain there are no more bodies in the passenger cabin," said Mr. Giong. "I am only concerned that some bodies may have drifted away."
According to VN Express, citing the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, the Wonder Sea was caught in a storm around 1:30 PM local time and capsized, subsequently losing its GPS signal.
A large-scale rescue operation was launched with the participation of the navy, border guards, police, and port authorities, along with 27 boats and two specialized rescue craft. VN Express added that heavy rain and limited visibility due to nightfall created many challenges for the rescue operation.
Most of the passengers on board were families from the capital city of Hanoi. According to VN Express, the oldest passenger was 53 years old and the youngest was just 3. There were over 20 children on board. Citing a local hospital director, the news outlet reported that a 10-year-old boy is in stable condition after suffering multiple injuries.
In a miraculous case of survival, a 14-year-old boy was rescued after being trapped for four hours inside the sunken ship's cabin. This information was confirmed by Mr. Bui Cong Hoan, vice chairman of the Ha Long Cruise Ship Association.
State broadcaster VTV interviewed a survivor, Ms. Dang Thuy Linh, while she was recovering at the provincial hospital. "I have lost contact with my son, my husband, and the entire family of my friend," Ms. Linh said tearfully. "What I ask for now is for everyone to speed up the rescue mission to save all of them. Please don't leave anyone behind on that boat. There is very little air left, the chance of survival is very slim."
The capsizing occurred near the Dau Go Cave area – one of the largest caves in the bay. Halong Bay is a famous tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprising about 1,600 limestone islands and islets.
