On the 19th, a cruise ship capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, northeastern Vietnam, and rescue workers are conducting search operations. Photo by AP Yonhap News
A cruise ship carrying more than 50 people capsized in Ha Long Bay, a popular tourist destination in Vietnam, resulting in 34 deaths and 8 people missing. It has been reported that there were no Korean nationals among the passengers on board.
According to local media such as VN Express on the 19th (local time), the 'Wonder Sea Cruise' was sailing in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh Province, northeastern Vietnam, at 12:55 p.m. on Sunday, carrying 48 passengers and 5 crew members, for a total of 53 people. At around 1:30 p.m., the ship suddenly encountered a storm, causing it to tilt and capsize. According to the Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, the GPS signal was lost at around 2:05 p.m.
Vietnamese authorities dispatched rescue teams, who rescued 11 passengers and confirmed 34 fatalities. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to find the 8 people who remain missing. At the time of the accident, Typhoon Wipha had just entered the South China Sea, and Ha Long Bay was experiencing strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning.
Local media reported that the cruise ship appears to have capsized due to strong winds. All the passengers were Vietnamese, with most being tourists from the capital city of Hanoi, and about 20 of them were children. A 14-year-old boy, who was trapped inside the overturned hull, was rescued four hours after the accident.
The Korean Embassy in Vietnam stated that, according to confirmation from Vietnamese authorities, there have been no Korean nationals among the passengers so far. However, the embassy is continuing to communicate closely with the authorities and is preparing for any unforeseen circumstances.
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