The accident of the tourist boat QN 7105 capsizing in Ha Long Bay on the afternoon of July 19, due to the impact of a sudden storm, became a heartbreaking tragedy, taking the lives of many tourists and crew members, leaving behind inconsolable loss for the families.
Immediately after receiving information about the incident, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha was present at the scene to direct the search and rescue work. At an urgent meeting at the Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command, Quang Ninh Provincial Party Secretary Vu Dai Thang reported that the province had quickly activated the rescue mechanism with the motto "4 on-site", mobilizing nearly 1,000 people from the military, police, border guards, medical forces, local rescuers and people, along with more than 100 vehicles to approach the scene. An on-site command post was also established to directly and consistently direct the rescue work.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and functional forces at the scene
By 9:30 p.m. on July 19, the forces had rescued 10 people and recovered 29 bodies. Together with the local forces, the Department of Rescue and Relief (Ministry of National Defense) and the Navy had increased their forces to support the underwater search that night. The Deputy Prime Minister requested the forces to expand the search area, thoroughly check the ship before it capsized, and ensure absolute safety for the rescue forces.
Units are trying to find victims.
At around 1:30 a.m. on July 20, after many extraordinary efforts, the authorities succeeded in turning the tourist boat QN 7105 back to its normal position. However, only 3 more bodies were found, including one suspected to be the captain Doan Van Trinh, in the stern area of the ship.
Deputy Prime Minister directly directed the search for victims.
According to official figures from the police, the total number of people on board the ship was 49, including 46 passengers and 3 crew members. With 35 bodies found and 10 people rescued, 4 people are still missing. The search for the remaining victims is still being urgently deployed.
On the night of July 19, the provincial leaders and the leaders of the Fatherland Front Committee of Quang Ninh province promptly visited and encouraged the victims who were being treated and resuscitated at the hospital. The province also quickly arranged accommodation and supported all food and accommodation expenses for the victims' families while in Quang Ninh.
Mr. Vu Van Dien - Permanent Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee - visited and presented support to injured victims in the capsized ship.
Regarding support policies, Quang Ninh province has initially provided 25 million VND/person to the families of the deceased victims and 8 million VND/person to the injured victims. The Provincial Fatherland Front Committee also provided an additional 5 million VND/person to the families of the deceased victims and 3 million VND/person to the injured victims. Notably, a number of businesses in the province have shared the losses, supporting the families of the deceased victims with 40 million VND/person and the injured victims with 25 million VND/person, demonstrating the spirit of mutual love.
By this morning, the authorities had completed the procedures for 26 deaths so that their families could bring their loved ones home for burial, helping to ease the burden of the families in this tragic moment. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha also requested Quang Ninh province and related localities to continue to organize treatment and provide thoughtful medical care for those who were rescued, arrange the most thoughtful funerals for those who died, and promptly provide transparent and accurate information to the people and public opinion.
