HA LONG BAY, Vietnam — During a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon, a tourist boat overturned, leading to the death of 34 individuals, as mentioned by state media. An additional eight people are yet to be found.
The boat, named Wonder Sea, was filled with 48 tourists and five crew members, all Vietnamese nationals, while on a tour of Ha Long Bay. This area is notably popular with sightseers, according to the reports.
Rescue operations led to the saving of 11 people, with the deceased also found near where the boat capsized, as reported by VNExpress newspaper. Meanwhile, 23 individuals are still unaccounted for. Initial reports noted that 12 had been rescued, but the numbers were later corrected to 11.
The boat turned upside down because of strong winds, the newspaper said. A 14-year-old boy was among the survivors, and he was rescued four hours after being trapped in the overturned hull.
The newspaper said that most of the passengers were tourists, including about 20 children, from Hanoi, the country’s capital.
A tropical storm is also moving toward the area. A national weather forecast said that Storm Wipha is expected to hit Vietnam’s northern region, including Ha Long Bay’s coast next week.
