Tragedy Strikes as 38 Dead in Ha Long Bay Tourist Boat Capsize

A devastating incident in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, has left at least 38 people dead following the capsizing of a tourist boat on October 7, 2023. The vessel, known as the Wonder Sea, was carrying 48 tourists and five crew members when it encountered severe weather conditions, leading to the tragic loss of life.

According to survivor Dang Anh Tuan, passengers urgently requested the captain to return to shore as a storm approached. Despite their pleas, the crew insisted they were close to their destination. Tuan described the harrowing moments just before the boat capsized, stating, “It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously. Tables and chairs were jostled around, and seconds later the boat overturned.”

As the vessel began to take on water, Tuan recounted a desperate struggle for survival. “I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help,” he told the Associated Press.

Tuan and three others clung to the upturned boat for approximately two hours until rescue teams arrived. Although rescuers managed to save 11 individuals, one person later succumbed to injuries in the hospital. Among the rescued was a 14-year-old boy who had been trapped for four hours inside the hull of the boat. The majority of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including around 20 children.

Tuan was on holiday with a group of 11 university friends, of whom only three survived the disaster. He sustained minor cuts, while one friend suffered severe head injuries and another was injured by shattered glass while escaping. Tragically, nine members of their group did not survive, including one man whose wife and three-year-old son also drowned.

The capsizing occurred due to severe winds, as reported by the VNExpress newspaper. The incident has drawn attention to safety protocols for tourist vessels in the region, especially as a tropical storm, Storm Wipha, is predicted to strike northern Vietnam, including the coast of Ha Long Bay, in the coming days.

As the community mourns, the incident raises critical questions about maritime safety and the protocols that govern tourist activities in vulnerable environments. The government is expected to conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the capsizing, as families of the victims seek answers and accountability.