Tourist Ship Capsizes in Vietnam, Leaving 38 Dead and Rescuing Boy After 4 Hours of Detention
38 people have died, and 8 others are still missing, following the capsizing of a tourist ship in Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam, due to a sudden thunderstorm on Saturday, July 19, according to official media.
The ship, 'Wonder Sea,' was carrying 48 passengers and 5 crew members, all Vietnamese, on a trip to the famous tourist site when it was overturned by strong winds.
The 'Vietnam Express' newspaper quoted rescue teams as having rescued 11 survivors, including a 14-year-old boy who was saved after 4 hours of being trapped inside the overturned ship's hull, as reported by the Associated Press.
Authorities initially announced the rescue of 12 people, before later correcting the number to 11. Reports indicated that most of the passengers were tourists from the capital Hanoi, including about 20 children.
In a related development, the Vietnamese meteorological department warned of the approaching tropical storm 'Wipha' to the area, expecting it to reach the coast of Ha Long Bay in the coming days.
In response to the incident, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued urgent instructions to the relevant authorities, emphasizing the need to intensify search and rescue efforts for the missing individuals.
