A dream trip turned into heartbreak in Vietnam’s famous Ha Long Bay after a tourist boat capsized during a violent storm.
At least 37 people were killed, and several others are still missing.
The vessel, Wonder Seas, was carrying 53 passengers—mostly Vietnamese families from Hanoi—when the weather suddenly shifted.
“The sky just went black around 2 p.m.,” one survivor told AFP.
What Happened There?
“There were hailstones as big as toes, thunder, lightning, and torrential rain.”
Rescue crews have battled through the storm to pull 11 people from the water.
Among the miracles: a 10-year-old boy who survived hours trapped in an air pocket under the overturned hull.
“I took a deep breath, dove down, and swam up,” he told VietnamNet. “Then I shouted, and someone pulled me out.”
But joy is scarce. At least eight of the recovered victims were children, and the grief is deepening.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent condolences and promised a full investigation, vowing violators will be “strictly handled.”
As night falls over the UNESCO World Heritage site once known for its postcard beauty.
One can’t help but wonder: How did paradise become a place of sorrow? And could this tragedy have been prevented?
