A tragic accident occurred this afternoon in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province, when the tourist boat numbered QN-7105 suddenly capsized due to a storm, causing 48 tourists and 5 crew members to be in distress.
Currently, rescue work is being urgently deployed by authorities, in still difficult weather conditions.
According to initial information, the accident occurred at around 1:45 p.m. this afternoon, in the sea area near Dau Go Cave, Ha Long Bay. The ship carrying 48 tourists and 5 crew members, including many families with young children, left Ha Long International Passenger Port (Bai Chay Ward) to carry out a tour of route 2.
Victims brought ashore after boat capsized in Ha Long Bay
However, when the ship reached the Dau Go cave area, a sudden and violent storm hit, causing the ship to capsize. Dozens of passengers and crew members fell into the sea, screaming for help in panic.
Immediately after receiving news of the serious incident, the leaders of Quang Ninh province immediately directed the functional forces to urgently deploy rescue and search for the victims. Units such as the Police, Border Guard, Port Authority, and many rescue ships were quickly mobilized to the scene.
Border guards brought the victim back to shore.
By about 5 p.m. the same day, the Hon Gai Port Border Guard Station, in coordination with forces from the Ha Long Bay Management Board, the Traffic Police Department of Quang Ninh Province, the Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command, and the Customs Sub-Department of Region 8, had rescued 8 people, 3 people died, and 40 people were missing. The search for the missing people is still being urgently deployed.
The area where the ship capsized
Although the rain had stopped by 5 p.m., strong winds were still blowing in Ha Long Bay. The Traffic Police Department (Ministry of Public Security) also sent a special task force directly to the scene to coordinate and direct the rescue work.
The latest update at 6 p.m. from the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee said that provincial leaders were present at the scene to direct the rescue work, ensuring maximum safety for tourists and crew members. The highest priority now is to focus all resources on searching for the missing people and ensuring the safety of all victims.
The weather at sea is not as stormy as it was at the time of the accident, but the rain is still heavy, and visibility is limited due to the darkness, making the search more difficult. The authorities are making every effort to overcome these obstacles, hoping to find all the victims as quickly as possible.
