Ha Long Bay Ferry Disaster: Families In Shock As Popular Tourist Spot Turns Deadly

Sunday, July 20, 2025

In 1 of Vietnam’s worst maritime disasters, 37 group died and 5 are still missing aft a tourer ferry capsized adjacent Ha Long Bay, 1 of nan country’s astir treasured recreation destinations. The “Wonder Sea” ferry sank Saturday successful a abrupt large wind pinch a full of 48 passengers and 5 unit members, causing wide mourning and nan insistence of contiguous rescue efforts.

Ferry Capsizes Amid Sudden Storm

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed waters of Ha Long Bay and its melodramatic limestone features person agelong been a tie for home and world visitors alike. But connected this fateful day, it was nan segment of devastation arsenic families, galore of whom had traveled from nan capital, Hanoi, were enveloped by a terrible large wind while enjoying their travel done nan scenic bay.

The ferry, carrying families, much than 20 of them children, was buffeted by a sudden, aggravated storm. Torrents of rain, flashes of lightning, and hailstones pelted nan ship, which quickly rolled over, throwing passengers into nan heaving sea. The alloy shipwrecked hours into nan storm, which took some its passengers and nan unit by surprise, nan Vietnamese news tract VNExpress reported.

Search and Recovery operations are carried out, and ongoing searches

By nan clip Saturday evening, 34 bodies were pulled from nan wreckage, and 11 passengers were rescued, section authorities reported. Rescue activity continued each nighttime successful what is expected to beryllium an arduous and heart-rending process, and connected Sunday, 3 much bodies were discovered wrong nan ferry’s cabin. By nan greeting of July 20, 5 group were still unaccounted for, starring some residents and visitors to rally successful support. The existent hunt and rescue cognition is directed by nan Ministry of Defense and nan Ministry of Public Security.

In a heartwrenching account, a 10-year-old kid subsister shared really he made it done nan ordeal. The young subsister told VietnamNet that he was capable to aquatics retired of a spread successful nan ferry’s hull aft it capsized, dived into nan water, and past swam for thief earlier he was picked up by soldiers connected different boat.

Government Responds to nan Tragedy

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh of Vietnam extended his condolences to nan families of nan victims and said nan authorities would look into what caused nan disaster. The Prime Minister, successful a statement, besides demanded an “impartial inquiry” and said if immoderate violations aliases negligence were starring to nan disaster, “we will not spare those responsible for nan incident and they will beryllium held accountable and quizzed.” His sentiments person been echoed by nan victims’ families, who are still successful a authorities of daze complete nan disappearance of their loved ones.

Safety Worries connected Tourist Ferries

The disaster has sparked questions astir nan information of tourer ferries successful Ha Long Bay, a apical tourer tie that attracts millions of visitors annually. Authorities successful South Korea vowed to reappraisal information rules and toughen inspections successful nan aftermath of nan calamity to forestall specified recurrences.

Beyond nan decease toll, nan calamity has prompted caller questions astir really prepared nan region was for utmost weather, particularly arsenic storms person deed nan region pinch greater wave and strength successful caller years. The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting said nan storms that deed bluish Vietnam, including Ha Long Bay, are not associated pinch Tropical Storm Wipha successful nan South China Sea, though Wipha was forecast to fortify and travel ashore early adjacent week.

The Broader Impacts Of Extreme Weather In Northern Vietnam

The dense upwind has hampered rescues truthful far. Northern Vietnam, which encompasses Hanoi and neighboring provinces, was deed by beardown winds and dense rains that caused extended harm that including downed trees and flooding. Adapting to New Norms: Members of nan authorities person kept engaged assisting areas damaged by nan storms and moving to mitigate their impact.

History of Nautical Disasters successful Ha Long Bay

What’s more, nan caller history of vessel accidents successful Ha Long Bay makes nan urgency astir this calamity each nan much real. In 2024, Typhoon Yagi battered nan coastal Quang Ninh state of nan Southeast Asian nation, sinking 30 vessels. Even so, Ha Long Bay remains a hotspot for travelers who caput this measurement to navigate its calm waters and marvel astatine its stunning beauty.

But for those touched by this catastrophe, nan large wind will ever formed its protector connected nan beauty of nan bay. In nan days pursuing nan tragedy, group successful nan Ha Long Bay region person rallied to support nan grieving families, and section authorities are cooperating intimately pinch nan Vietnamese Red Cross to assistance nan survivors and nan families of nan deceased.

The Search for nan Missing Goes On, and nan Nation Mourns

The authorities proceed to hunt for those missing from nan tragic incident, which is reminiscent of nan overwhelming heroism of nan rescuers arsenic good arsenic nan awesome sorrow of nan group successful Ha Long Bay and nan country. Even though nan destiny of tourism successful Ha Long Bay has been formed into a protector by this disaster, location is nary uncertainty that this calamity will ignite strict reforms successful information standards for maritime tourism passim nan country.