Ha Long Bay Tourist Boat Capsizes; 37 Dead, 5 Missing

Islamabad, July 21, 2025: A tragic accident struck Vietnam’s famous Ha Long Bay when a tourist boat, Wonder Sea Boat, capsized during a sudden thunderstorm on Saturday. The boat was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members when it flipped over, according to state media.

So far, 37 bodies have been found and five people are still missing. Among those on board were more than 20 children. Ten survivors were rescued by Saturday evening. The boat has now been brought back to shore.

The accident happened during rough weather. Reports say strong winds, lightning and heavy rain hit the area quickly. The National Center for Hydrometeorological Forecasting explained that hot weather over the past three days caused unstable air conditions which led to the storm. The coming Storm Wipha is expected to bring more bad weather across northern Vietnam in the next few days.

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has expressed sympathy to the families of the victims. The government has promised to investigate what went wrong and punish those who are responsible.

Ha Long Bay is Vietnam top tourist destination known for its clear waters and limestone islands. This is not the first such incident happened as last year 30 boats sank in the area after Typhoon Yagi.

Authorities are continuing rescue efforts and watching the storm closely.