Storm Capsizes Boat in Halong Bay, 38 Confirmed Dead

A deadly boat accident took place on July 19 near Dau Go Cave in Vietnam’s Halong Bay, when a passenger vessel named Wonder Sea overturned, claiming the lives of 38 people.

The boat, which was on a sightseeing trip, capsized around 3:30 p.m. local time. It was carrying a total of 53 individuals—48 tourists and 5 crew members—when it was struck by a sudden thunderstorm and turbulent sea conditions, leading to a loss of balance and the vessel’s eventual overturning.

Vietnamese officials responded swiftly with a large-scale emergency operation involving the border guard, coast guard, navy, port authorities, and local law enforcement. Close to 30 rescue boats were deployed to the scene.

So far, 10 people have been pulled from the water alive, while five others are still unaccounted for. Rescue teams have faced major challenges due to continuous heavy rainfall and poor visibility, particularly at night. Divers are continuing efforts to locate those still missing inside the capsized vessel.

Authorities have opened an official inquiry to uncover the exact cause of the disaster.