At least 37 people have been confirmed dead after a tourist boat capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday afternoon. The Wonder Sea, carrying 48 passengers and five crew members—all Vietnamese—was on a sightseeing tour of the popular destination when strong winds overturned the vessel.
Rescue workers saved 11 people from the waters, but five individuals remain missing, according to local reports from the VNExpress newspaper. Among the survivors was a 14-year-old boy who was rescued after being trapped inside the overturned hull for four hours.
The boat was pulled ashore early Sunday, where the bodies of three crew members were discovered inside. Most of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, the nation’s capital, including about 20 children who were part of the group.
Tropical Storm Wipha Approaches
The sudden storm that caused the capsize was accompanied by strong winds, a precursor to Tropical Storm Wipha, which is expected to hit Vietnam’s northern region next week, including the coast of Ha Long Bay. The national weather forecast has issued warnings as the storm approaches.
Ha Long Bay is renowned for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands topped by rainforests. The area attracts millions of domestic and international tourists each year.
Authorities are continuing search and rescue operations for the missing passengers. The incident has raised concerns about marine safety regulations and emergency preparedness in the face of unpredictable weather conditions.
