Tragedy struck Ha Long Bay in Vietnam when a tourist boat capsized during a thunderstorm, resulting in the deaths of 34 people.
The “Wonder Sea” boat, carrying 48 passengers and five crew members, all Vietnamese nationals, was on a tour of the popular tourist destination.
According to VNExpress newspaper, rescue teams managed to save 11 individuals and recover the bodies of the deceased near the accident site.
Eight people are still unaccounted for.
The incident was attributed to strong winds that caused the boat to overturn, the newspaper reported. Among the survivors was a 14-year-old boy who was rescued after being trapped in the overturned hull for four hours.
The report further indicated that the majority of passengers were tourists from Hanoi, the country’s capital, including approximately 20 children.
Adding to concerns, a tropical storm, Wipha, is approaching the region and is expected to impact Vietnam’s northern area, including the Ha Long Bay coast, in the coming week, according to the national weather forecast.
