Death toll climbs to 34 after tourist boat carrying 53 capsizes in Ha Long Bay
A cruise boat carrying 53 people capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, on Sunday afternoon amid strong winds, with authorities confirming that 11 people have been rescued and 34 bodies recovered so far.
At 12:55 p.m., the Wonder Sea cruise ship, carrying 48 tourists and 5 crew members, was sailing through Ha Long Bay. Around 1:30 p.m., it was suddenly struck by a storm, causing it to tilt and overturn. By 2:05 p.m., the vessel had lost its GPS signal, according to the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.
Authorities mobilized border guards, the navy, police, port authorities, along with 27 boats and two rescue crafts to the scene. A command center was also established to coordinate search and rescue efforts.
Rescue teams were divided into several groups. One team of divers searched inside the capsized ship’s cabin, while another surrounded the site of the capsized vessel, using specialized equipment to search for victims.
Although the sea had calmed, heavy rain and nightfall limited visibility, making rescue operations difficult. By 5 p.m., Quang Ninh’s border guards said 10 people had been rescued from the Wonder Sea, and three bodies had been recovered.
Le Ngoc Dung, director of Bai Chay Hospital, said a 10-year-old boy had been admitted conscious, with multiple injuries. Doctors provided emergency treatment and the boy’s condition was now stable.
At the site of the capsized ship, Bui Cong Hoan, deputy head of the Ha Long Cruise Ship Association, recounted witnessing a 14-year-old boy survive after being trapped inside the sunken cabin for four hours.
« Although the ship had overturned and the cabin doors were locked, there was still an air pocket about 50-60 cm wide, enough for oxygen to get in, so the boy survived, » he said. Rescuers later broke a window and brought the boy onto a rescue boat.
By 7 p.m., authorities said two more survivors and three more bodies had been found. This brought the total survivors to 12 and confirmed deaths to five, with 36 people still missing. Most of the passengers were from Hanoi, traveling as families, including over 20 children. The oldest passenger was 53, and the youngest just 3.
A crane barge was deployed to lift and right the capsized boat. However, divers were unable to loop cables around the vessel due to strong currents and the ship’s heavy weight.
At 8 p.m., prime minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an official message expressing sympathy to the victims and condolences to the families of those who died. He sent deputy prime minister Tran Hong Ha to the site to oversee rescue efforts.
As of 8:45 p.m., according to the Navy Command, 28 bodies had been recovered, including 8 children, and 11 people had been rescued, down from the initially reported 12. Fourteen people are still missing.
By 9 p.m., weather conditions in Ha Long Bay deteriorated, with rough seas, heavy rain and strong winds. Authorities were still unable to salvage the ship, while divers continued to search underwater for victims.
Six more bodies have been found, bringing the total number of confirmed deaths to 34, according to the command center. 8 are still missing.
According to the inland waterway registration certificate issued by the Quang Ninh Department of Construction, the ship was built in 2015. It measures 24 meters in length, has a load capacity of 12 tons and is licensed to carry 48 passengers. In January 2025, the ship was issued a certificate of technical safety and environmental protection for inland waterway vessels.
Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said the ongoing rains in northern Vietnam were not due to the impacts of the approaching Storm Wipha from the South China Sea, but due to wind patterns over the northern region.
Ha Long Bay, spanning over 1,500 square kilometers and dotted with nearly 2,000 islands, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and draws millions of international and domestic visitors each year.
VnExpress.net – July 19, 2025