Death toll from Vietnam tourist boat accident rises to 38

The death toll from a tourist boat accident in Vietnam's Halong Bay has risen to at least 38, with several people still reported missing, authorities said, as rescue operations continue ahead of the arrival of Typhoon Wipha.

The incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when a vessel carrying 48 tourists and five crew members capsized in the bay, one of Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations. It is considered one of the worst boating disasters in the country in recent years.

"At least 38 of those on board have been confirmed dead and 10 rescued," the government said in a statement.

According to the official Vietnam News Agency, all the passengers were Vietnamese nationals, including several children.

A large-scale rescue effort is underway involving dozens of personnel from the border guard, navy, police, and professional diving teams. Despite calmer seas, poor visibility caused by adverse weather has hampered the search and rescue mission.

Authorities have confirmed that the sunken boat has been retrieved.

The accident happened around 2 p.m. local time on Saturday, shortly after Typhoon Wipha entered the South China Sea. Officials said strong winds, heavy rain, and lightning were present in the area at the time, though these were not yet directly linked to the typhoon but rather local wind patterns in the northern region.

Halong Bay, located about 200 kilometers (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and draws tens of thousands of tourists annually, with boat tours being a major attraction.

A similar tragedy occurred in 2011 when a tour boat sank in Halong Bay, claiming 12 lives, including foreign nationals.

Typhoon Wipha, the third storm to enter the South China Sea this year, is forecast to make landfall along Vietnam’s northern coast early next week.

Source: Agency