At around 2:30 p.m. on July 19, a tourist ship with license plate QN 7105 suddenly capsized in Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province) due to a strong thunderstorm in the Gia Luan Cat Hai area. There were 48 passengers and 5 crew members on board.
As soon as the information was received, the Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard urgently directed the Hon Gai Port Border Guard Station to coordinate with other forces to quickly approach the scene.
Rescue work is being urgently deployed, the top priority is to ensure the safety of people and tourists.
The Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard deployed 5 teams of ships and boats with 35 officers and soldiers led by Colonel Tran Van Thanh, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff, to conduct search and rescue at the scene.
At 5:45 p.m. on July 19, the authorities rescued 10 people, including tourists and crew members (Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard rescued 7 people, a civil boat rescued 3 people) and recovered 3 bodies.
As of 6:00 a.m. this morning, July 20, the total number of bodies on the tourist boat sunk in Ha Long Bay were found at 35.
According to the latest update, the Green Bay 58 ship has been capsized and towed ashore. Three more crew members were found, bringing the total death toll to 38.
Authorities continue to race against time to search for missing people, before rough seas and heavier rain from Typhoon No. 3 Wipha heading towards the Gulf of Tonkin.
