Death Toll Reaches 37 as Ferry Capsizes in Ha Long Bay

Rescue operations are ongoing in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, as authorities search for five individuals still missing following the tragic sinking of a tourist ferry on July 20, 2023. The incident has resulted in the confirmed deaths of 37 people, making it one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the region’s history. The ferry, identified as the Wonder Sea, was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it capsized amid severe weather conditions.

Details of the Incident

On Saturday, families visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site were aboard the vessel when a sudden storm struck, causing heavy rain and strong winds. Reports from VNExpress indicate that most passengers were from Hanoi, with over 20 children among them. As of Saturday evening, border guards had successfully rescued 11 individuals and recovered 34 bodies.

Efforts to locate the missing continued into Sunday morning, during which three crew members’ bodies were found in the ship’s cabin. A 10-year-old boy, one of the survivors, recounted his harrowing experience, stating, “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 on.” His account highlights the panic and desperation experienced during the incident.

Government Response and Investigation

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and instructed the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Public Security to conduct urgent search and rescue operations. A government statement indicated that authorities would investigate the cause of the sinking and take appropriate action against any violations of safety regulations.

The local community has expressed shock at the sudden change in weather. Tran Trong Hung, a resident in the Ha Long Bay area, described the conditions, stating, “The sky turned dark at around 14:00. There were hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorm and lightning.” The storm also impacted northern regions of Vietnam, including Hanoi, where strong winds caused several trees to be uprooted.

According to Mai Van Khiem, director of the National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, the thunderstorms were unrelated to Tropical Storm Wipha, which entered the South China Sea on Sunday and is expected to strengthen before making landfall in Vietnam early next week. Last year, the region experienced similar incidents, with 30 vessels sinking in Quang Ninh province due to severe weather conditions.

Ha Long Bay remains a top destination for tourists, attracting millions each year to its stunning landscape of blue-green waters and limestone islands. The tragedy has raised concerns about safety regulations in the region, especially following similar incidents in nearby areas, including a ferry sinking off the coast of Bali earlier this month, resulting in at least 18 fatalities.

As rescue efforts continue and investigations unfold, the impact of this disaster on both the local community and the tourism industry remains to be seen.