Vinh Xanh 58 tour boat capsizes amid a sudden storm in Ha Long Bay on July 19. Photo by Quang Ninh
The vessel, Vinh Xanh 58, was carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, all Vietnamese, when it overturned at around 1.45 pm, approximately three nautical miles offshore. The boat was reportedly struck by strong winds and rough seas as the storm swept across northern Vietnam.
Rescue teams were dispatched immediately, with divers entering the submerged hull and surface crews using sonar to search for victims. As of 9.50 pm the same day, 11 people had been rescued and 34 bodies recovered, and some others still unaccounted for.
A child is rescued from the capsized boat.
Authorities brought in a crane-equipped barge in an effort to right the vessel, but efforts have been hampered by swift currents and the ship’s weight, which has made it difficult to secure lifting cables.
The sudden storm impacted Quang Ninh province and several northern localities, including Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Bac Ninh and Ninh Binh. High winds and heavy rain caused widespread damage, including the collapse of a stage at Sun Carnival Square in Ha Long City ahead of a scheduled evening concert. Organisers postponed the event and are working on alternative arrangements.
In Hanoi, the storm brought strong winds that uprooted trees and damaged rooftops.
Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, said the severe weather was not linked to Tropical Storm Wipha currently in the East Sea, but rather caused by wind convergence along a low-pressure trough across northern Vietnam.
Rescue operations continue as authorities race against time to locate the missing passengers.
