Tragedy has struck Vietnam as a tourist boat capsized amidst severe weather conditions, resulting in at least 34 fatalities, with several individuals still unaccounted for.
The incident occurred in Ha Long Bay, a renowned tourist destination situated in the northern region of the country.
Reports indicate that the majority of passengers were Vietnamese families visiting from the nation’s capital, Hanoi.
Rescue operations are being hampered by heavy rainfall, according to rescue teams. To date, 11 individuals have been rescued from the water.
The vessel, named Wonder Seas, was carrying 53 people when it capsized after encountering a sudden storm, according to a statement from the Vietnamese Border Guards and navy.
An eyewitness account provided to AFP news agency described the sky darkening at approximately 14:00 local time on Saturday (07:00 GMT).
The witness reported “hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorm and lightning”.
A 14-year-old boy was rescued after spending four hours trapped in an air pocket within the overturned hull, as reported by an official to the VNExpress news site.
Hospital director Le Ngoc Dung stated that a 10-year-old boy was also among those rescued and is currently in stable condition at Bai Chay Hospital.
VNExpress reports that at least eight children are among the bodies recovered thus far.
Rescue efforts are slated to continue throughout the night to locate the remaining missing individuals.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has extended his condolences to the families of the deceased.
A government statement indicated that authorities will conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident and “strictly handle violations”.
Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province, a Unesco World Heritage site, is characterized by hundreds of small islands, attracting 4 million tourists in 2019.