HA LONG BAY – During a sudden thunderstorm on Saturday afternoon, a tourist boat overturn in Vietnam led to the deaths of 34 individuals, as per state media. Additionally, eight others are currently unaccounted for.

The sightseeing boat, known as the Wonder Sea, had 48 passengers and a crew of five, all of whom were Vietnamese, during its tour around Ha Long Bay, a well-known spot for tourists, based on the reports.

Rescue teams managed to save 11 individuals and retrieved the bodies near where the incident occurred, according to VNExpress newspaper. Meanwhile, 23 people are still missing. Initially, it was reported that 12 had been saved, but this number was 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.