18 dead as tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay; thunderstorm blamed for tragedy; dozens, including children, still missing

At least 18 people were killed and several remain missing after a tourist boat carrying more than 50 people capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday during a sudden thunderstorm, as per reports by several state media, cited by AP.

The exact number of missing passengers remains unclear so far. However, dozens are feared to have been swept away.The vessel was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members. As per the report by Dan Tri news site, the boat overturned after being hit by sudden heavy rain while touring the UNESCO World Heritage site. Most of those on board were families visiting from Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi. Besides, more than 20 children were among the passengers, VNExpress said.The border guards have recovered 18 bodies till now, while 12 people were rescued alive, VNExpress reported.The search and rescue operations continued late into the night as authorities tried to locate the missing people. Ha Long Bay is famous for its blue-green waters and rainforest-covered limestone islands. Annually, millions of visitors visit the holiday destination.Notably, after Typhoon Yagi battered the area with strong winds and high waves in 2023, 30 vessels sank in Quang Ninh province, which encompasses Ha Long Bay.Local officials said sudden weather changes, which is common in the region, pose a recurring threat to tourist vessels, especially during the monsoon season.