At least 34 people died and 8 went missing after a tourist boat capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday. The boat was carrying over 50 people, including 48 tourists and 5 crew members, when it turned upside down due to strong winds. Here is more on it.
Tourist Boat Capsizes In Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay
The boat, called ‘The Wonder Sea’, was carrying 48 passengers and 5 crew members when it capsized suddenly during a thunderstorm in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay. The bay is one of the country’s most popular tourist spots. As per a report by Euronews, the incident happened on Saturday. The harrowing footage of the boat was also posted by @volcaholic1 on their X account.
The rescue team managed to save a total of 11 people and recovered 27 bodies, which included 8 children. Reportedly, most of the passengers were families, with more than 20 children on the boat. They had arrived from Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. A 14-year-old boy who was later rescued spent around four hours trapped inside the upside-down hull of the boat, leaving him scared and vulnerable. Rescue operations continued till late at night as authorities searched for more missing people.
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Storm Warning Issued Earlier At UNESCO Site
Ha Long Bay, in northeast Vietnam, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s known for its emerald waters and limestone islands surrounded by a rainforest. The bay also features magnificent caves with ancient formations and is quite popular with tourists. As per a report by Euronews, the tragedy comes just as a new tropical storm named ‘Wipha’ heads towards northern Vietnam. It also marks the third typhoon to hit the South China Sea this year.
The National Meteorological Centre has warned that the coastal region of the bay could be significantly impacted due to the typhoon. Sudden weather changes in the area are becoming common and pose a serious threat to tourist boats. Officials are now awaiting more updates on the ongoing search and rescue operations.
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Ha Long Bay, a tourist spot with breathtaking views, attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year.
Cover Image Courtesy: @volcaholic1/ X
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