Tourists dead after Vietnam boat capsizes
The 39-foot boat was carrying 48 passengers and five crew when it rolled in stormy weather, local news outlet VNExpress International reported.
Officials have confirmed 34 bodies have been pulled from the water, with 11 people rescued.
Witnesses reported heavy rain, thunderstorms and even hail at the time of the boat's capsize.
Ha Long Bay is a popular tourist destination located in Vietnam's northern coastal province of Quang Ninh.
A 10-year-old boy was among those pulled alive from the capsized vessel, VietnamNet reported, adding everyone aboard the boat was Vietnamese.
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha was overseeing rescue efforts at the scene, after the boat rolled at around 3:30 p.m. IT Saturday.
Over two-dozen boats were responding to the incident, including those driven by other tour operators, local police, the Vietnamese Coast Guard and Vietnam People's Navy.
"Water levels are currently low, which aids access to the wreck," told VietnamNet in an interview.
"However, the salvage operation must be calculated carefully to ensure the safety of rescuers."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
Summer sizzle: NYC, Boston among cities eyeing record highs this week
A person cools off near the fountain at Washington Square Park in New York City in June 2024. Forecasters say intense heat is set to surge into the Northeast late this week, with temperatures climbing high enough in some areas to challenge daily records. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Intense heat is set to surge into the Northeast late this week, with temperatures climbing high enough in some areas to challenge daily records, according to AccuWeather meteorologists. The brief burst of heat will be fueled by a piece of a larger heat dome anchored over the Great Plains, which is expected to break off and push eastward heading into the weekend. While average temperatures in late July are typically the highest temperatures of the year, driven by intense sunshine, warmer Atlantic and lake waters and long days-this upcoming event may push the upper bounds of historical norms. But, even with routine temperatures typically very high this time of the year, some locations may set daily record highs from Friday to Saturday in parts of the Northeast. Temperatures will begin to climb on Thursday with widespread highs well into the 80s to mid-90s in store for the Northeast. Friday will bring the crest of the heat in New England and in the zone from upstate and eastern New York to portions of New Jersey and northern and eastern Pennsylvania. "In Hartford, Connecticut, the current record of 98 set in 2001 on Friday may be topped," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said. "The record of 99 set in 2016 in Newark, New Jersey, is likely to be swapped by a triple-digit reading." The record high of 97 in 1999 in New York City is projected to be tied on Friday. Meanwhile, in Boston, the record of 96 set way back in 1882 could be matched or topped on Friday. "Showers and heavy thunderstorms follow late in the day on Friday and bring a significant cooldown to the upper 70s on Saturday," Merrill said. "This will be a very similar pattern to last month when Boston hit 102 degrees on June 24 and cooled to the upper 70s for highs two days later," Merrill added. Lower humidity will accompany the cooler air in New England and the upper part of the mid-Atlantic on Saturday and may push southward a bit more on Sunday along the Atlantic coast for at time. The temperature boundary will be a focusing point for at least spotty thunderstorm activity this weekend. The storms will extend from parts of the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes states to the mid-Atlantic coast. With more cloud cover around and the likelihood of some local cooling breezes from thunderstorm activity, temperatures may inch downward just a bit over the mid-Atlantic during the weekend but far from the extent enjoyed by millions from this past Monday to Tuesday. Highs in Washington, D.C., will trend downward from near the century mark on Friday to the mid-90s on Saturday and the low 90s on Sunday to put the mid-Atlantic region's cooling trend in perspective. The cooling trend in the mid-Atlantic will likely briefly reverse early next week with highs well into the 90s from Monday to Tuesday. "Much more sweeping changes will come through the Northeast from Tuesday to Wednesday, depending on location," Merrill said. "A touch of autumn is expected for a few days during the middle to latter part of next week with lower-than-historical average highs that will linger into the first few days in August." The transition could be marked by drenching downpours and gusty thunderstorms. Those with travel plans are encouraged to keep abreast of the forecast for timing and locations of the most severe activity that could lead to disruptions. "In the wake of the storms next week, nighttime temperatures will drop into the 30s and 40s in the Adirondacks and Green and White Mountains with comfortable 60s for much of the Interstate 95 corridor by the end of next week," Merrill said.
UPI
2 days ago
- UPI
Unprecedented sargassum surge threatens tourism in the Caribbean
People walk past sargassum clumps on the sand in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, earlier this month. Dominican President Luis Abinader has issued an urgent call to recognize the scale of the environmental crisis posed by sargassum in the Caribbean, warning that the phenomenon could deal 'a significant blow to the GDP of island nations.' Photo by Orlando Barria/EPA July 23 (UPI) -- At the United Nations Ocean Conference in June, Dominican President Luis Abinader issued an urgent call to recognize the scale of the environmental crisis posed by sargassum in the Caribbean. He warned the phenomenon could deal "a significant blow to the GDP of island nations." Sargassum, a floating macroalgae, has shifted from a rare anomaly to a chronic threat, hitting the tourism industries of countries such as Mexico and the Dominican Republic, where tourism makes up 19% of GDP. This season, sargassum levels could hit a record high, with up to 25 million metric tons estimated across the Caribbean Sea, Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico. The economic effect could surpass that of previous years. Operating costs for sargassum removal could exceed $120 million a year in critical areas, including expenses for barriers, equipment and transportation. Esteban Amaro, director of the Sargassum Monitoring Center in Mexico, warned that the state of Quintana Roo is facing one of its worst seasons yet. The most affected areas stretch from Tulum to Playa del Carmen, along with hotspots such as Xcalak, Mahahual and Cozumel. Nearly the entire coastline is under red alert. Countries such as Barbados, Mexico and the Dominican Republic have reported hotel booking drops of 30% to 40% during peak sargassum periods, typically between May and August. Regional losses could reach $200 million per high season, based on historical patterns. Puerto Rico and Cuba are among other Caribbean nations battling sargassum issues daily. The spread of this invasive seaweed, worsened by global warming, threatens not only the economy but also public health and marine ecosystems, endangering key species such as fish, coral and sea turtles. Local fishers are seeing reduced catches and falling incomes, leaving many in a difficult financial position. As sargassum decomposes, it produces a strong odor that affects quality of life in coastal communities. More concerning are the respiratory issues it can cause, especially among vulnerable individuals exposed to its toxic emissions. In response to the worsening crisis, the region is seeking innovative solutions, with a focus on transforming sargassum into a useful resource. The proposals are varied and promising -- from using sargassum as fuel for biomass energy to harnessing its nutrients to enrich agricultural soil. There is also discussion of extracting compounds for use in cosmetics, food products and other goods. Sos Carbón, a startup led by young Dominican entrepreneurs, has developed an offshore system to collect sargassum before it reaches the shore and begins to decompose, releasing toxic substances. The system already is in use in Mexico, Antigua and Barbuda and Puerto Rico. María Ceballos, a member of the product development team at SOS Carbón-Biotech, said the company has begun producing agricultural biostimulants with promising results. This month, the Dominican Republic and the European Union launched the first Working Group on Sargassum Valorization, aimed at developing viable value chains for processing sargassum. According to the Dominican Republic's Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the goal is to turn this massive challenge into an economic opportunity for the Caribbean.
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
South Korea's president proclaims disaster after 19 die in flooding
On Monday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung (C) visited the flood-damaged village of Sancheong in the southeast province of South Gyeongsang after a landslide following heavy rainfall. On Tuesday, the president declared a special emergency disaster to unleash further aid. Photo By EPA/Yonhap July 22 (UPI) -- At least 19 people are dead and about nine still missing after torrential rain, flooding and landslides ravaged parts of South Korea, forcing thousands to be evacuated. South Korea's president declared a special disaster to provide government aid. "All government assistance must be mobilized to help residents in the affected areas return to their daily lives as soon as possible," President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday in designating six of the country's nine provinces a special disaster zone. Since Wednesday, massive rain has triggered a series of landslides, with flooding affecting regions in South Korea's south. By Monday, up to 31 inches of rain fell in the south and western provinces. According to South Korea's home ministry, some 14,000 civilians were evacuated, with reports of lost or damaged farms and homes, as well as about 1.5 million livestock lost. Additionally, more than 1 million chickens were lost, as well as produce-growing fields in an area the size of about 40,000 soccer fields. The disaster declaration targets the provinces of Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang. The flooding has prompted multiple reports of often heroic rescues, with victims trapped in homes or swept away in cars by rushing floodwaters. Roads in Dong-gu, Gwangju, were submerged by Thursday, with the hardest hit in the central south coast county of Sancheong, where 10 fatalities were reported after 12 inches of rain on Sunday forced officials to advise safety precautions to its 33,000 residents. On Sunday, South Korean weather authorities downgraded its heavy rain alert. However, more rain was in Monday's forecast for parts in South Korea's central and northern parts. It came with warnings of a heat wave in the south, where chemicals were sprayed in villages to prevent disease outbreak in the flood's aftermath. Meanwhile, officials from the General Insurance Association of Korea said Tuesday that data showed from Wednesday to Monday at least 3,131 flood-damaged vehicles had been reported to 12 non-life insurance companies in estimated losses to the tune of 29.6 billion won, or more than $21 billion. "The scale of the damage is significant due to the many days of intense, prolonged rain," an insurance industry official told The Korea Times on Tuesday. "Since claims are still being filed, the figures are likely to rise," they added.
