At least 34 people, including eight children, died, and several others are still missing after a tourist boat named Wonder Sea capsized in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay during a sudden thunderstorm on July 19. The boat was carrying 53 people, most of whom were families from Hanoi, including more than 20 children, when it overturned amid strong winds and heavy rain. Vietnamese authorities confirmed that 34 bodies have been recovered from the water, and rescuers have found 11 survivors. Search and rescue operations are being conducted urgently, with efforts hindered by adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and reduced visibility. Rescuers are continuing to search for the missing passengers.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his condolences to the victims' families and required local officials to support them and organize proper funerals. "We will investigate the circumstances of the incident to clarify them and deal strictly with any violation," said the authorities in a government statement.
The Wonder Sea capsized around 1:45 PM local time near Đầu Gỗ Cave in Ha Long Bay due to a sudden thunderstorm, which brought strong winds, lightning, and heavy rain. The storm began shortly after Typhoon Wipha entered the South China Sea. "Darkness fell around two o'clock," with hailstones "the size of fingers" and torrential rain, said Tran Trong Hong, who works at the Ha Long Bay office.
One survivor, a 14-year-old boy, spent four hours trapped under the boat, using an air pocket to breathe, before being freed by rescuers who found him through a glazed window and broke the glass. "In the compartment where the teenager was trapped, an 'air pocket' about 50 centimeters wide and high was preserved, allowing him to breathe," according to hospital officials.
"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. Water gushed in and I lost all orientation," said Dang Anh Tuan, a 36-year-old fire extinguisher salesman, according to the Associated Press. Tuan was on holiday with 11 university friends, only three of whom survived. He and three others clung to the capsized boat and its propellers, waiting another two hours until the rain stopped and rescue arrived.
Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its blue-green waters, limestone islets, and tropical forests, attracts millions of visitors annually. Boat tours are popular, allowing tourists to explore the limestone formations. Most of the passengers on the Wonder Sea were Vietnamese families from Hanoi visiting the area.
"The search must be completed tonight. Prepare to raise the boat as soon as possible, expand the search area, and deploy professional divers," emphasized Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha, who was present at the scene to direct search and rescue operations.
Rescue operations are being carried out urgently throughout the night to find the missing passengers, with local news agencies conducting live broadcasts. Quang Ninh Province is directing search and rescue forces, including personnel from the Navy, Provincial Military Command, Border Guard, Coast Guard, police, and about 30 divers, to continue implementing measures to find the remaining missing persons at sea.
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