35 dead, four still missing after tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay
The boat, carrying 46 tourists and three crew members, was struck by an unexpected thunderstorm while on a sightseeing tour to Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island.
The Vinh Xanh 58 tourist boat is towed ashore on July 20 morning. (Photo: VNA)
Quang Ninh (VNA) – Forty-five out of 49 people aboard the Vinh Xanh 58 tourist boat had been found as of 1:40 am on July 20 following the tragic capsizing incident in Ha Long Bay a day earlier, with 10 survivors, 35 confirmed dead, and four still unaccounted for, the People’s Committee of Quang Ninh province announced on July 20 morning.
The boat, carrying 46 tourists and three crew members, was struck by an unexpected thunderstorm while on a sightseeing tour to Sung Sot Cave and Titop Island. The steel-hulled vessel, built in 2015, lost GPS signal contact at 2:05 pm on July 19.
ꦫ Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha oversaw the rescue operation that mobilised nearly 1,000 people and 100 vehicles from multiple agencies. The coordinated response involved the border guard, coast guard, police, naval, and fisheries surveillance forces, Ha Long Bay Management Board, along with local fishermen.
The search and rescue work is underway for the missing victims. (Photo: VNA)
Authorities are expanding the search area for another 9km with the determination to find all the victims.
The capsized boat was towed ashore at 2 am on July 20.
Quang Ninh has implemented immediate support measures for victims' families, providing 25 million VND (955 USD) in funeral expenses for each of the deceased and 5 million VND for each of the 10 injured. The province has also arranged free accommodation and full meal coverage for victims' families during their stay in the locality.
Currently, 22 hotels in Ha Long are offering free lodging and meals for relatives arriving to identify and claim their loved ones.
🥃 As Typhoon Wipha is approaching, Quang Ninh has imposed a sea ban and prohibited vessels from departing ports./.
The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting predicted continued showers and thunderstorms across the Gulf of Tonkin and northern and central of the East Sea, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, starting on July 20.
Shortly after receiving reports of a tourist boat capsizing near Ti Top Island in Quang Ninh province, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha promptly arrived at the scene to oversee the search and rescue efforts.
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Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
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