Captain and 4 crew arrested for Ha Long Bay accident

>> Tourist boat’s hull “suddenly broke”, killing 12 in Ha Long Bay

The investigation into the accident involving a tourist boat has lead to the arrest of 5 people, on February 17.

The rescue

Among the lucky

Others were not as fortunate

Captain Nguyen Van Minh, 21, along with four crew members of the boat that sank, have been arrested. The accident left 12 dead.

According to Do Thong, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, there is an ongoing investigation of the incident.

The provincial government has requested that local authorities bring the wrecked ship ashore as soon as possible for investigation purposes, Thong said, adding that Nguyen Van Doc, chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee affirmed, “As soon as we were informed of the accident, we immediately took rescue measures.”

Doc noted that the tourists on the boat who died were taken to the Bai Chay General Hospital.

Authorities are in the process of turning over the remains.

There were 15 survivors of the accident.

Sacconi Stefand and Corda Stefand, both from Italy, were still under medical treatment at Bai Chay general hospital on the afternoon of February 17.They were still shaken by the incident.

Codra Stefand said that, “We departed from Hanoi planning to have a three-day journey in Ha Long Bay. There was no way we could have anticipated what would happened.”

“When the ship went down, weather conditions were calm. My brother and I were so impressed by the view. Everything went smoothly until the late afternoon,” Codra said.

“I first noticed something was wrong after dinner. I said something to ship’s management.”

“I could not sleep well that night and woke up at around 5am. I wanted to go on deck for fresh air, but I was surprised to see that the ship sinking on one side. I heard the sound of water rushing in."

“I went back to wake up Sacconi, when the ship obviously sinking. People were screaming, but a lot of people were still asleep,” he said.

“Both of us went on the deck when the ship was almost under water. I still remember thinking that some people were still in bed underneath. Codra and I jumped to the water to swim to safety,” Sacconi added.

James Dany Michel Eddy, from France, was also among the fortunate.

Michel Eddy tried to help his friend, Scattarelli Claudio, from Germany, who he’d just met, escape by breaking through the door of the cabin.

After saving his friend, Eddy tried to get out through a small hole on the door. He was seriously injured.

Michel Eddy was still under medical treatment at Bai Chay General Hospital on February 17 for injuries from the accident. Michel Eddy said, “I’m shaken by the incident.”