Ha Long Bay Tragedy: 34 Dead, 8 Missing After Tourist Boat Capsizes In Sudden Storm In Vietnam (VISUALS)

Ha Long Bay Tragedy: 34 Dead, 8 Missing After Tourist Boat Capsizes In Sudden Storm In Vietnam (VISUALS)

The vessel, named Wonder Seas, was conducting a popular cruise through the UNESCO-listed bay when it was struck by sudden, extreme weather.

Aditi SuryavanshiUpdated: Sunday, July 20, 2025, 08:26 AM IST
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Ha Long Bay Tragedy: 34 Dead, 8 Missing After Tourist Boat Capsizes In Sudden Storm In Vietnam (VISUALS) | X/@vietnamnewsvns

Ha Long Bay: A sightseeing trip turned into a devastating disaster on Saturday, July 19, after a tourist boat carrying dozens of passengers capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay during a violent thunderstorm.

At least 34 people have been confirmed dead, while eight remain missing, according to local media reports.

The vessel, named Wonder Seas, was conducting a popular cruise through the UNESCO-listed bay when it was struck by sudden, extreme weather. The boat was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members at the time of the incident.

Sudden Storm Triggered Horror at Sea

According to reports cited by VNExpress and the Associated Press, the Wonder Seas was hit by a powerful storm in the early afternoon.

Eyewitnesses described a dramatic shift in the weather, with the sky darkening around 2:00 pm, followed by what one called “hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorm and lightning,” as reported by AFP.

Strong winds flipped the boat, trapping several people inside. While rescue efforts managed to save 11 passengers, including a 14-year-old boy who survived for four hours inside the hull, the operation has now turned into a grim search for bodies. Footage shows people clinging to the overturned vessel’s hull, while others were rescued from choppy waters.

"Even though the ship overturned and the passenger compartment was locked, there was still a gap of about 50–60 cm, enough for oxygen to enter so the baby was still alive," Bui Cong Hoan of the Ha Long Cruise Ship Association told VNExpress. The teenager was later pulled out through a broken window by rescuers.

Massive Search Operation Underway

Emergency response teams, including 15 divers, are continuing to comb the bay for the missing. A 10-year-old boy is among the survivors and is said to be in stable condition at Bai Chay Hospital, according to hospital director Le Ngoc Dung.

There are currently no indications that any American citizens were aboard the vessel. A US State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital that it is monitoring the situation and ready to offer assistance if needed.

Located in Quang Ninh Province, Ha Long Bay is a major tourist magnet, famed for its emerald waters and towering limestone formations. The bay’s name, meaning “Descending Dragon,” is rooted in local legend, but on Saturday, the serene landscape became the site of unthinkable loss.

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