AT least 34 people perished and eight remain missing after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday.
The incident occurred during a sudden and severe thunderstorm that struck the popular tourist destination. The boat, named “The Wonder Sea,” was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members, all Vietnamese nationals, on a sightseeing excursion when strong winds overturned the vessel.
According to VNExpress, a rescue team recovered 27 bodies, including eight children, and saved 11 survivors near the wreck site. Initial reports of 12 survivors were later revised.
The majority of passengers, including 20 children, were tourists from Hanoi. Among the survivors is a 14-year-old boy who remarkably survived for four hours trapped inside the upturned hull of the boat.
The tragic incident highlights the dangers of sudden severe weather events and underscores the need for robust safety measures in popular tourist locations. The ongoing search and rescue efforts continue to focus on locating the eight missing individuals.
metrosundaily
