A 10-year-old boy survived the deadly tourist boat disaster in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay by sheltering in an air pocket as the vessel capsized during a violent storm. The sinking claimed 35 lives and 10 people were rescued. Several people remain missing, according to reports.
The Wonder Sea, carrying 53 passengers and crew, overturned near Dau Go Cave at around 1:30 p.m. local time on Saturday after being hit by a sudden storm. Passengers were mostly Vietnamese families visiting from Hanoi. At least 20 children were on board. The youngest was three years old.
Local authorities confirmed that 10 people were rescued from the water. The young boy, who was traveling with his parents, was found alive inside the submerged hull. He told press, “I took a deep breath… dived, then swam up. I even shouted for help, then I was pulled up by a boat.” He was later treated at a hospital for shock.
Heavy rainfall and high winds hampered overnight search efforts. The body of a six-year-old boy was found Monday near a nearby island, local officials told press.
A survivor, Dang Anh Tuan, recounted escaping the sinking boat. “It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake. Tables and chairs moved. Seconds later, it flipped,” he said. “Water rushed in. I took a deep breath, removed my life jacket, and swam toward a streak of light. That led me out.”
Tuan climbed onto the overturned hull with others and waited over two hours in the rain for rescuers. He had been vacationing with 11 university friends. Only three survived.
An eyewitness described the moment the storm struck: “The sky went dark. There were hailstones the size of toes. Thunder and lightning followed.”
Of the bodies recovered, at least eight were children, press reported. The capsized boat was towed back to port Sunday with visible structural damage.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended his condolences to the families. In a statement, the government promised a full investigation and said those found responsible would face consequences.
Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Quang Ninh province, is famous for its limestone islands and draws millions of tourists each year. The tragedy has cast a spotlight on passenger safety and storm preparedness in Vietnam’s tourism sector.
Authorities reported 35 deaths and 11 survivors while search and recovery operations are still ongoing.
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