Deadly Storm Sinks Cruise Ship in Ha Long Bay, Claiming 37 Lives

Hanoi: A devastating incident unfolded in northern Vietnam when a cruise ship carrying tourists capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province, during a sudden and intense storm, according to the Vietnam News Agency. The tragedy, which occurred on Saturday at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time, has left 37 people dead, with rescue efforts still ongoing to locate survivors. By 2:05 p.m., the vessel had lost contact with authorities and sank beneath the bay’s waters, officials confirmed.

The cruise ship was carrying 48 passengers, evenly split between 24 men and 24 women, many of whom were reportedly young people and children. Local media outlet Tien Phong noted that the majority of the passengers were Vietnamese families from Hanoi visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its emerald waters and thousands of limestone islands. Despite treacherous weather conditions, including heavy rainfall, rescue teams have successfully saved 11 individuals from the water.

Ha Long Bay, a premier tourist destination that attracted over 4 million visitors in 2019, is now the site of national mourning as the search for survivors continues amidst the region’s iconic natural beauty.