35 dead as tourist vessel sinks off Vietnam By MyTVCebu Desk

International

AT LEAST 35 people died while several others went missing after a tourist vessel sank off Ha Long Bay in Vietnam on Saturday afternoon.

In a report by BBC, local authorities confirmed that 10 people were rescued, including a 10-year-old boy who was found in an air pocket inside the overturned hull.

The incident occurred when the area was hit by hail, heavy rain, thunder, and lightning, according to eyewitness accounts.

The violent storm struck with little warning, leaving passengers with almost no time to react.

Among the victims was a 21-year-old man whose grieving mother, Nguyen Thi Lien, told Reuters: “All I want to do is die. I don’t want anything in this world anymore, I’m so tired.”

Of the recovered bodies, at least eight were children, according to local news outlet VNExpress. Heavy rain has hampered search and rescue efforts.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and called for a full investigation into the cause of the accident.

Ha Long Bay, located in Quang Ninh province, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its limestone islands and scenic views. It drew over four million tourists in 2019.(Jeo Ckaji Siwala, HNU-Comm Intern)