Tragedy in Vietnam: 38 dead after boat accident in Halong Bay

Tragedy in Vietnam: 38 dead after boat accident in Halong Bay

In Vietnam, a tragic accident occurred in Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A tour boat with 53 people on board capsized during a sudden thunderstorm. The number of confirmed victims has risen to 38 after three more bodies were discovered during the recovery operation. There are also eight children among the deceased. A total of 48 tourists and five crew members were on board, 11 of whom were rescued while four people remain missing. Süddeutsche.de reports that the boat capsized during storms and thunderstorms on Saturday, resulting in a dramatic loss of life.

Most of the victims came from the capital Hanoi and were on a boat tour in this stunning region with their families, many of them children. Further details of the tragedy emerged through reports of the salvage operation, which mobilized more than 30 ships and 323 emergency personnel, including border guards, police, navy and port authorities. The local fishing community also helped in the effort to find the missing people.

Search operations and efforts by authorities

The boat's GPS signal was lost during the accident, which made rescue work even more difficult. Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and instructed those responsible to prioritize rescue efforts. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha traveled to the scene to lead the coordination of rescue work. So far, 34 bodies have been recovered and the search for the missing people is ongoing. SRF.ch reports that Halong Bay boat tours are extremely popular among tourists due to its unique limestone formations.

The recovery operation continues to be supported by local authorities as hope of finding the missing people is not given up. This tragedy also raises questions about the safety of boating in the region, especially during adverse weather conditions.