At least 27 people, including children, have died after a tourist cruise boat carrying over 50 people capsized off Vietnam’s northern coast.
The disaster occurred on Sunday afternoon at around 2 pm local time (7 am UK time), when the Wonder Sea vessel overturned while navigating Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province.
Authorities confirmed that 48 tourists and five crew members were on board the boat when it ran into difficulty. The bodies of 19 adults and eight children have so far been recovered by search-and-rescue teams.
Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors, with 11 people confirmed to have been pulled from the water alive. Efforts are ongoing amid challenging weather conditions.
Local reports say the vessel was hit by severe weather caused by a typhoon moving across the South China Sea. The ship capsized shortly after being struck by powerful winds and heavy rain.
The nationalities of the tourists on board have not yet been disclosed by Vietnamese officials. It is unclear whether any foreign nationals are among the deceased or missing.
Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations. Located roughly 125 miles northeast of Hanoi, it attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually.
Many travellers take overnight cruises through the bay’s renowned limestone formations, caves, and emerald waters.
Weather agencies say the region was affected by Storm Wipha, the third typhoon to sweep through the South China Sea so far this year.
Forecasts predict the storm will make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coastline in the coming days, with authorities on high alert for further disruption.
The Vietnamese government has not yet commented publicly on the incident but said an investigation would be launched into the cause of the capsize once rescue efforts conclude.
