By Chief Petty Officer Kyle Niemi
At least 35 people have been confirmed dead and several remain missing after a tourist boat capsized in northern Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay during a sudden bout of severe weather.
The tragedy occurred in one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, known for its scenic limestone islets and emerald waters. The vessel, named Wonder Seas, was carrying 53 passengers—mostly Vietnamese families visiting from the capital, Hanoi—when it overturned during a sudden storm on Saturday afternoon.
Local authorities reported that 10 individuals were pulled alive from the water, but search and rescue efforts have been severely hampered by heavy rain. Among those rescued was a 10-year-old boy who miraculously survived by staying in an air pocket trapped inside the upturned hull. “I took a deep breath… dived, then swam up. I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat,” the boy, who had been travelling with his parents, told VietnamNet.
A witness told AFP that the weather turned dramatically around 14:00 local time (07:00 GMT), with “hailstones as big as toes” falling as torrential rain, thunderstorms, and lightning engulfed the area.
Eight of the deceased have been identified as children, according to VNExpress. One grieving mother, Nguyen Thi Lien, who lost her 21-year-old son, said through tears: “All I want to do is die. I don’t want anything in this world anymore, I’m so tired.”
Trang Trung Tu, whose 32-year-old brother was among the victims, expressed disbelief: “My brother can swim, but I was told everything happened too fast.”
In a statement, the Vietnamese Border Guards and navy confirmed the boat capsized following a sudden storm. Authorities initially reported 37 dead and 11 survivors, but police later revised those figures.
The rescue mission extended overnight into Sunday, with challenging weather conditions slowing progress. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered condolences to the families of those who died and emphasized that a full investigation would be launched. “Authorities will investigate the cause of the accident and strictly handle violations,” a government statement said.
Ha Long Bay, located in Quang Ninh province, is a UNESCO World Heritage site that attracted over four million visitors in 2019. The accident has raised questions about safety protocols for tourist vessels operating in unpredictable weather conditions.
