At least 34 people have died and several others remain missing after a tourist boat capsized in northern Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay during severe weather conditions.
The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon when the vessel, Wonder Seas, encountered a sudden storm while carrying 53 people, according to a statement from the Vietnamese Border Guards and navy.
The majority of those on board were Vietnamese families from Hanoi, visiting the popular UNESCO World Heritage site.
Rescue teams have so far managed to pull 11 survivors from the water. Among them was a 10-year-old boy who was found trapped inside an air pocket beneath the overturned boat.
He managed to escape and signal for help before being rescued.
The storm developed quickly around 2:00 PM local time, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, thunder, and large hailstones.
Rough conditions have continued to slow down search and rescue efforts, with emergency crews preparing to continue operations through the night in hopes of locating those still unaccounted for.
At least eight children are among the confirmed dead, according to Vietnamese news outlet VNExpress.
Families of the victims have started receiving condolences from government leaders, including Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Authorities have pledged to investigate the incident thoroughly and determine if there were any safety violations that contributed to the tragedy.
A government statement confirmed that any wrongdoing will be addressed appropriately.
Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam’s most visited tourist locations, attracting thousands of visitors each year with its scenic limestone islands and calm waters.
This incident marks one of the deadliest boating accidents in the country in recent years.