A sudden, ferocious thunderstorm transformed a picturesque sightseeing excursion into a devastating tragedy on Saturday, as a tourist boat carrying dozens of passengers, including numerous families and children, capsized in Vietnam’s renowned Ha Long Bay. Initial reports from state media confirm at least 38 people are dead, with search and rescue efforts desperately continuing for five individuals still missing.
The vessel, named the Wonder Sea, was reportedly carrying 48 passengers, predominantly Vietnamese tourists from Hanoi, and five crew members when it was suddenly engulfed by violent winds and torrential rain around Saturday afternoon. Eyewitnesses described a rapid and terrifying turn of events.
“It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned,” recounted Dang Anh Tuan, a 36-year-old survivor who lost nine of his university friends, including one friend’s wife and 3-year-old son, in the disaster. “Water gushed in and I lost all orientation.”
Tuan described a harrowing escape, where he took a deep breath, discarded his life vest, and dove to find a streak of light, ultimately climbing onto the overturned hull to await rescue. Another incredible story of survival emerged: a 14-year-old boy was found alive four hours after the capsizing, having been trapped in an air pocket within the overturned vessel.
Rescue workers, including border guards, navy personnel, police, and professional divers, quickly mobilized. By Saturday evening, 11 people had been rescued, though one later died in hospital due to injuries. By Sunday morning, the death toll had climbed to 38, with search operations intensifying for the remaining missing.
The incident occurred despite relatively calm conditions earlier in the day, with locals reporting a dramatic shift in weather around 2 PM local time. “The sky turned dark. There were hailstones as big as toes, heavy rain, thunderstorms and lightning,” a resident of the Ha Long Bay area told AFP. Meteorological experts clarified that this particular storm was a localized event, not directly linked to Tropical Storm Wipha, which is currently gaining strength in the South China Sea and expected to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.
Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its emerald waters and thousands of towering limestone islands, attracts millions of domestic and international tourists annually. Boat tours are a cornerstone of its tourism industry.
This tragedy tragically highlights the inherent risks of maritime tourism, especially in regions prone to sudden and severe weather changes. While Vietnamese authorities have implemented stricter safety regulations following previous accidents, including a 2011 incident that killed 12 people, questions are likely to be raised once again about enforcement and preparedness.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed his deepest condolences to the victims’ families and has ordered an urgent, comprehensive investigation into the cause of the capsizing, pledging to “strictly handle any violations.” As rescue teams continue their grim work amidst the iconic karst formations, the incident serves as a devastating reminder of nature’s unpredictable power and the critical importance of stringent safety measures in protecting lives on the water.