Body of 6-year-old retrieved as search continues on Ha Long Bay
Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the search for victims of the capsized tourist boat before Typhoon Wipha hit the northern coast.
THE HANOI TIMES — Authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh on July 21 retrieved the body of a six-year-old child who had been missing since a tourist boat turned over in Ha Long Bay on July 19.
Search and rescue operations were conducted on July 19 and 20 to locate the passengers. File photo
The victim, born in 2019, was found drifting near Titov Island. The child was one of four people still missing after the boat tipped over on the afternoon of July 19.
According to the Quang Ninh People’s Committee, the boat was carrying 46 passengers and three crew members when it capsized due to a sudden thunderstorm.
Local authorities, military personnel, and police immediately launched search and rescue operations with the help of about 500 fishermen.
By nightfall, the boat had been towed to shore. Early on July 20, the deceased were identified and handed over to their families.
Ten people survived the incident, while 36 are confirmed dead and three remain missing. Among the victims are 18 residents of Hanoi, of whom 17 died.
Search operations are ongoing as Typhoon Wipha is expected to hit the northern coast on July 21. Authorities are racing against time to locate the missing individuals before the storm makes landfall.
At a July 20 press briefing, Bui Hong Minh, Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Department of Construction, said all tourist boats operating in Ha Long Bay comply with safety standards that exceed national requirements.
Minh noted that the ill-fated boat, the Vinh Xanh 58, had a safety factor of 2.3 compared to the minimum standard of 1.
He stated that Quang Ninh has 15 criteria for service quality and vessel safety that surpass national standards for all tourist boats operating in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Van Cong, Deputy Chairman of the Quang Ninh provincial people's committee, expressed deep sympathy to the families affected by the tragedy.
He said that the province has provided the highest level of support to the victims and is mobilizing resources from the private sector to continue helping families in need.
The deputy chairman added that Quang Ninh will provide long-term support for any children orphaned as a result of the disaster.
