A sightseeing ship capsized in a squall in Halong Bay, Vietnam, on Saturday, leaving at least 34 bodies recovered and 11 people rescued. The vessel, carrying 53 people, including 48 tourists and five crew members, was caught in a storm that caused it to capsize around 1.30 p.m. local time.
Search and rescue efforts continued early Sunday morning as divers searched beneath the waves for missing passengers and crew. According to diver Đinh Khắc Giông, much of the ship’s passenger area had been searched, but the cockpit and engine room were stuck in mud, making them harder to reach.
The ship, called the Wonder Sea, was carrying a mix of Vietnamese tourists and foreigners, with most passengers from Hanoi traveling as families. Over 20 children were on board, including a 10-year-old boy who suffered multiple injuries and is now in stable condition at a local hospital.
Survivors shared harrowing accounts of the disaster, with one woman, Dang Thuy Linh, expressing desperation for rescue teams to speed up their efforts. “Please don’t let anyone behind on that boat,” she said. “There is so little air left, there is a small chance of surviving.”
Rescue operations were hindered by heavy rain and limited visibility due to nightfall, but navy, border guards, police, and port authorities, along with 27 boats and two rescue craft, were mobilized to the scene. The ship was reported to have capsized near the Dau Go Cave, one of the largest caves in Halong Bay.
Halong Bay is a popular tourist destination and UNESCO world heritage site, comprising around 1,600 limestone islands and islets. The incident has raised concerns about safety measures for tourists and cruise ships operating in the area.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/19/asia/boat-capsize-halong-bay-vietnam-intl