HANOI, Vietnam — A tourist boat carrying families through the turquoise waters of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, capsized during a sudden storm on Saturday afternoon, leaving at least 34 people dead, state media reported. Rescuers raced against time to locate eight others still missing as night fell.
The vessel, carrying 48 passengers—mostly families from Hanoi, including more than 20 children—and five crew members, was overwhelmed by heavy rain, thunderstorms, and lightning, according to VNExpress. The storm struck around 2 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), with hailstones “as big as toes” pummeling the area, said Tran Trong Hung, a Ha Long Bay office worker.
Border guards managed to rescue 11 people, but the tragedy claimed 34 lives, VNExpress reported. Among the survivors was a 10-year-old boy who recounted a harrowing escape to VietnamNet: “I took a deep breath, swam through a gap, dived, then swam up. I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat with soldiers.”
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed condolences to the victims’ families and ordered the defense and public security ministries to intensify search-and-rescue efforts. Authorities vowed to investigate the incident thoroughly and “strictly handle violations,” according to a government statement.
The National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting clarified that the storm was unrelated to Tropical Storm Wipha in the South China Sea, said director Mai Van Khiem.
Ha Long Bay, famed for its emerald waters and limestone islands, draws millions of visitors annually. The disaster recalls last year’s devastation in Quang Ninh province, where Typhoon Yagi sank 30 vessels along the bay’s coast.
Rescue operations continued into the night, with hopes fading for those still unaccounted for in the storm-ravaged waters.
