A cruise ship carrying 48 tourists and 5 crew members capsized off Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam on July 19, 2023, due to a sudden storm. The vessel lost its GPS signal and was unable to communicate with authorities until around 2:05 pm.
Rescue efforts were quickly mobilized, involving border guards, the navy, police, port authorities, and multiple boats. A command center was established to coordinate the search and rescue operation.
Despite initial reports of 12 survivors, officials later confirmed that only 11 people had been rescued, while three more bodies had been recovered. However, heavy rain and nightfall made it difficult to continue the rescue operations.
One survivor reported witnessing a 14-year-old boy trapped inside the sunken cabin for four hours before being rescued by divers who broke open a window to bring him to safety.
As of 8:45 pm, authorities confirmed that 28 bodies had been recovered, including eight children, and nine people were still missing. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed sympathy and condolences to the victims’ families, while the Navy Command continued to search for survivors.
The incident has left a total of ten people dead, with 36 people reported missing. The ship was built in 2015 and was licensed to carry 48 passengers.
Source: https://e.vnexpress.net/news/news/death-toll-climbs-to-34-after-tourist-boat-carrying-53-capsizes-in-ha-long-bay-4916414.html