[Video] Twelve rescued after tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay
At least 12 people died when a tourist boat capsized on Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province in the afternoon of July 19.
THE HANOI TIMES — As many as 12 people were rescued as of 6 PM after a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay on July 19, local media reported.
Vietnam's Border Guards deploy rescue work. Photo: Tien Phong
The border guards of Quang Ninh Province approach and rescue tourists on July 19. Photo: Quan Doi Nhan Dan Newspaper
The incident occurred around 2 PM in the afternoon of July 19 as the tourist boat with registration number QN 7105 was navigating route 2 in Ha Long Bay.
It suddenly overturned near the Gia Luan area in Cat Hai due to a thunderstorm and strong winds, leaving three dead.
The boat was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members at the time of the accident.
A total of five rescue vessels and 50 officers and soldiers were deployed immediately by Quang Ninh border guards to search the area for rescue.
Rescue efforts remain underway. Survivors are being brought ashore by the waterway police, while Quang Ninh police have mobilized additional forces and local units to continue the search for the missing.
Mai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that the thunderstorms and strong winds across northern provinces on July 19 were not related to Typhoon Wipha (Storm No. 3).
He said that the current storms in the north were caused by wind convergence along a low-pressure trough stretching across northern Vietnam in a northwest-southeast direction.
According to Khiem, strong winds and thunderstorms caused significant property damage and flooding in several areas, including Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces, and Hanoi.
The upcoming typhoon’s outer circulation may affect mainland Vietnam beginning in the evening of July 20.
As of 4 PM on July 19, Typhoon Wipha was active over the northeastern waters of the northern East Sea. The storm had maximum sustained winds of level 10 (89–102 km/h), with gusts reaching level 12, and was moving west-northwest at around 20 km/h.
Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, said that the typhoon may cause strong winds and large waves in the northern and central parts of the East Sea. The northern area of the northern East Sea is expected to be hit directly, with wind speeds reaching level 10–12 and gusts up to level 15.
Starting July 20, the typhoon is expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surges to northern coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Thanh Hoa. Low-lying coastal areas are at risk of flooding.
Lam also warned of localized torrential rain, with rainfall exceeding 150mm within three hours in northern midland areas.
Flash floods and landslides may occur on mountain slopes in northern provinces and parts of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An, while urban flooding is also likely in low-lying and densely populated areas, he added.
