37 dead, 5 missing as tourist boat capsizes during Vietnam storm
The Wonder Sea boat was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members — all of them Vietnamese — on a tour of Ha Long Bay, a popular destination, according to the reports.
Rescue workers saved 11 people and recovered the dead near the site of the capsizing, VNExpress newspaper said. Authorities revised the figure after earlier reporting that 12 people had been rescued.
The boat turned upside down because of strong winds, the newspaper said. A 14-year-old boy was rescued after four hours trapped in the overturned hull.
The newspaper said that most of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including about 20 children.
A tropical storm is also moving toward the area. A national weather forecast said that Storm Wipha is expected to hit Vietnam's northern region next week, including Ha Long Bay's coast.
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The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
Foreign Office issue travel warning for Vietnam as tropical storm approaches
Travellers to Vietnam have been warned to 'expect travel disruption' as a tropical storm approaches tourist hotspots on its northern coast. Storm Wipha is forecast to bring heavy rain, strong winds and flooding when it makes landfall on Tuesday. The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) advised in an update on Monday (21 July): 'Storm Wipha is approaching northern Vietnam, with landfall forecast for Tuesday 22 July. Areas including Ha Long Bay, Ha Noi and Ninh Binh are forecast to be affected.' It added that travellers should expect 'heavy rainfall, strong winds, flooding, and mudslides' in affected areas following the storm's landfall. 'You should expect travel disruption and should follow advice from local authorities,' said the FCDO. According to local outlet VN Express, as of 7am on Monday, Wipha was travelling with maximum sustained winds measured at 55mph and gusts of up to 73mph. Airlines including Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, Vietjet Air and regional airline VASCO have cancelled some flights on Monday and Tuesday as Wipha approaches. Vietnam's National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said: 'There are scattered showers and thunderstorms, especially in the Northwest. There is a possibility of tornadoes during thunderstorms.' It added that in the northwest, wind gusts could reach level 10 with rough seas and a wave height up to five metres. The typhoon is expected to weaken into a 'tropical depression over Laos' by Wednesday, reported VN Express. The national disaster risk level is set at Level 3 with Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính issuing an emergency directive for local authorities to prepare for the storm, the outlet added. Wipha is the third tropical storm to affect Vietnam this year. On Sunday, the storm swept southern China with strong winds and heavy rain after crossing the Philippines and Taiwan. At least 35 people died after a tourist boat capsized in Vietnam on Saturday as rescue workers raced to find survivors ahead of the arrival of the tropical storm. The vessel with an estimated 49 people on board capsized in a sudden thunderstorm during a tour of Ha Long Bay, in one of the worst accidents in the popular tourist area in recent years.
STV News
8 hours ago
- STV News
Tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam killing at least 37
At least 37 people have been killed after a boat carrying tourists capsized during a sudden thunderstorm in Vietnam, the country's media has reported. Five people remain missing and 11 were rescued, according to the VNExpress newspaper. The Wonder Sea boat was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members during the tour of Ha Long Bay, a popular destination for visitors, according to the reports. The boat turned upside down because of strong winds, the newspaper said. A 14-year-old boy was among the survivors, and he was rescued four hours after being trapped in the overturned hull. The newspaper said that most of the passengers were tourists, including about 20 children, from Hanoi, the country's capital. A tropical storm is also moving toward the area. A national weather forecast said that Storm Wipha is expected to hit Vietnam's northern region, including Ha Long Bay's coast next week. File photo of tourist boats in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. / Credit: AP Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Time Out
10 hours ago
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Is it safe to travel to Vietnam? Latest advice as Typhoon Wipha nears country's coastal provinces
It has been a wet and miserable few days for swathes of Asia as Typhoon Wipha wreaked (and continues to wreak) havoc in Hong Kong, Macau, the Philippines, and southern China. It has left at least five dead in the Philippines, forced hundreds of flight disruptions in Hong Kong and Macau, and intense downpours in China's coastal regions that are expected to continue until tomorrow. This is on top of torrential monsoon rains that left dozens dead in Vietnam and South Korea over the past week. Typhoon Wipha is now in the South China Sea and headed towards Vietnam. Here's all you need to know about when and where it is expected to hit, and the latest travel advice. When is Typhoon Wipha expected to hit Vietnam? The storm is expected to make landfall early this Tuesday (Jul 22), crossing the country's northern coast between Quang Ninh and Ninh Binh provinces. Are flights into Vietnam affected? Yes, Vietnam Airlines and its affiliate, Pacific Airlines, have announced multiple flight changes due to Typhoon Wipha, mainly between Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong. The Group also cautioned that multiple domestic and international flights on July 21 and 22 may experience delays and schedule disruptions due to the typhoon. Budget airlines Vietjet has also cancelled at least 12 flights on Monday, according to The Straits Times. If you've a flight scheduled into northern Vietnam over the next few days, do check directly with your airline for updates. Is it safe to travel to Vietnam? There is no official advisory against travel to Vietnam, but our advice is to lay off your plans or make alternative arrangements if possible. Vietnam's national weather agency has warned that heavy rains could cause dangerous floods and mudslides, with the country's prime minister Pham Minh Chinh putting coastal provinces on emergency alert. On Sunday night, he sent out an urgent message calling for boats to come ashore, for people to be evacuated from flood-prone areas, and for food supplies and rescue equipment to be readied. Can I get a refund if I cancel my trip? As there has been no official warning against travel to Vietnam, you won't automatically be entitled to a refund if you change your travel plans. If in doubt, it's best to contact your airline and travel providers to see what can be done.
