Ha Long Bay Boat Disaster: Survivor Recounts Terrifying Escape

Dozens feared dead as tour vessel capsizes amid sudden storm

A harrowing account has emerged from the capsizing of a tourist boat in Vietnam’s scenic Ha Long Bay, where a survivor described a desperate bid for freedom from the submerged vessel. The incident has left at least 35 people dead, with a continued search for four missing individuals.

Storm Strikes Without Warning

The Wonder Sea tour boat, carrying 46 passengers and three crew, set sail for a three-hour excursion on Saturday afternoon. However, a fierce storm rapidly enveloped the area, bringing strong winds and torrential rain. According to survivor **Dang Anh Tuan**, 36, passengers requested the boat return to shore, but the crew assured them they were nearing their destination.

“It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned,” recounted **Mr Tuan**, a fire extinguisher salesman.

“Water gushed in and I lost all orientation. I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help.”

—Dang Anh Tuan, Survivor

Mr Tuan and several others survived by clinging to the capsized boat’s hull and propellers until rescuers arrived approximately two hours later, after the storm subsided. Vietnamese state media reported an earlier figure of 38 dead and five missing was inaccurate.

Rescue Efforts and Investigation Underway

The capsized Wonder Sea was later towed to a shipyard for a thorough investigation. Images revealed the vessel sustained significant damage, with most of its windows shattered and structural damage to the roof and handrails. Police and officials were observed working at the scene.

Rescue workers managed to recover 11 survivors, though one later succumbed to injuries in the hospital. The newspaper cited strong winds as the cause of the vessel overturning. Tragically, a 14-year-old boy was rescued after being trapped for four hours within the submerged hull.

Most of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, with approximately 20 children among them. **Mr Tuan** had been on holiday with 11 university friends; only three of them survived the disaster. While **Mr Tuan** sustained only minor injuries, one friend suffered severe head trauma, and another had tendons severed by broken glass during his escape.

The disaster occurred as Vietnam braced for Tropical Storm Wipha, which was forecast to impact the country’s northern region, including the coast near Ha Long Bay, in the upcoming week. This storm could further complicate recovery and investigation efforts.

The capacity of tourist boats operating in popular scenic areas like Ha Long Bay has come under scrutiny, with regulations often struggling to keep pace with visitor numbers. For instance, in 2023, over 18 million tourists visited Ha Long Bay, highlighting the critical need for stringent safety measures.