Tourist Tragedy Strikes UNESCO World Heritage Site
At least 35 people have died after a tourist vessel capsized in Vietnam's iconic Ha Long Bay on Saturday afternoon, local authorities confirmed. The boat was carrying 46 passengers and three crew members when it overturned in Quang Ninh province's waters during an afternoon cruise.
Emergency teams rescued 10 survivors, while four individuals remain missing as of Sunday morning. Provincial officials stated search operations are ongoing despite rough weather conditions complicating recovery efforts. The vessel's sudden capsizing has raised questions about safety protocols for Vietnam's booming tourism sector.
Ha Long Bay's Tourism Under Scrutiny
This incident marks one of the deadliest maritime accidents in recent Vietnamese history, occurring in a UNESCO-listed site that attracts over 7 million annual visitors. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the capsizing, with preliminary reports suggesting sudden squalls may have contributed to the disaster.
