Specifically, at around 3:45 p.m. on February 26, a canoe numbered Qna-1151, belonging to Phuong Dong - Hoi An Tourism Company, was carrying 39 people, including 36 tourists and 3 crew members, from Cu Lao Cham Island to Cua Dai port. When it was about 2 km from Cua Dai beach, the canoe was suddenly sunk by waves.
After receiving the news, authorities and local people organized search and rescue forces.
Rescue forces are actively searching for missing victims at Cua Dai beach. Photo: People's Police Newspaper
Colonel Nguyen Quang Nam, Deputy Commander of the Quang Nam Border Guard - who directly commanded the rescue work at the scene, said that the Quang Nam Provincial Border Guard Command mobilized 35 officers and soldiers from Cua Dai Border Guard Station, Cu Lao Cham Border Guard Station, along with 6 canoes and many fishing boats of fishermen and tourist boats of enterprises to participate in the search and rescue.
By 5 p.m., authorities and fishermen had found and rescued 34 people, of whom 10 had died and two were in critical condition. The search for the remaining victims is still ongoing.
Residents and tourists gathered along Cua Dai wharf to watch the incident. Photo: People's Police Newspaper
Mr. Nguyen Van Son - Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee informed that due to unfavorable weather conditions with strong winds and waves, the search for the victims was difficult. The area where the incident occurred was near Cua Dai wharf, and there was no one in the canoe.
"The remaining 6 victims were drifting at sea. 10 canoes and hundreds of people were mobilized to search," said Mr. Son.
