Rescuers search for survivors after tourist boat capsizes killing dozens in Vietnam
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SBS Australia
2 days ago
- SBS Australia
Deadly tour boat survivor in Vietnam describes his escape
A man who survived the capsizing of a tour boat in Ha Long Bay has described his escape from the overturned vessel. At least 35 people were killed in the accident and a search is continuing for four who are still missing, according to Vietnamese state media. Authorities said earlier reports of 38 dead and five missing were incorrect. The Wonder Sea embarked early Saturday afternoon (local time) for a three-hour excursion in Ha Long Bay, a popular tourist destination, carrying 46 passengers and three crew. But a storm quickly covered the sky, bringing high winds and pouring rain, survivor Dang Anh Tuan told The Associated Press. Rescue workers saved 11 people, some of whom had clung to the capsized boat's hull for hours. Source: AP / QDND Tuan said the passengers asked for the boat to turn back to shore, but the crew reassured them they were almost at their destination and kept the boat moving forward. "It rained for about 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake vigorously, tables and chairs were jostled around and seconds later the boat overturned," the 36-year-old fire extinguisher salesman said. "Water gushed in and I lost all orientation. "I tried to breathe. But more water came in. I took a deep breath, got rid of my life vest and dove down. "I saw a streak of light and followed it to swim out, escaping the boat, and then I climbed on the overturned boat to look for help," he said. Tuan and three others survived by clinging to the capsized boat and its propellers, waiting another two hours until the rain stopped and rescuers arrived. Ha Long Bay in Vietnam attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Source: PA / Nguyen Van Hai-Barbier Jean Pierre The Wonder Sea boat was later seen being towed to a shipyard for investigation, with most of its windows shattered, and damage to its roof and handrails. Police and other officials were seen working on the boat. Rescue workers recovered 11 survivors, but one later died in hospital due to his injuries, VNExpress newspaper said. 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 most of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including about 20 children. Tuan was a holiday with 11 university friends, only three of whom survived. Tuan has only minor cuts, but one of his friends suffered multiple head injuries and the other's tendons were cut by broken glass as he escaped the boat through a window. The other nine members of the group were killed, including one who was travelling with his wife and three-year-old son. The wife and child were also drowned. A tropical storm is also moving toward the area. A national weather forecast said Storm Wipha was expected to hit Vietnam's northern region next week, including Ha Long Bay's coast.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- News.com.au
Lesotho's jockeys saddle up for mountain horse racing
Swathed in vibrant woollen blankets against the biting winter chill, jockeys -- some no more than boys -- thundered down a dusty track carved between the undulating hills of the tiny kingdom of Lesotho. Spectators lining the ridges cheered on the riders as their horses sprinted down one of Africa's highest tracks, more than 2,200 metres (7,200 feet) above sea level. Horse racing in Lesotho, a country ringed by South Africa, is not just a sport, it is a cultural carnival where wagers are the real blood sport. This weekend's edition in the village of Semonkong in central Lesotho carried extra weight; it was the premium fixture of the season and timed to mark King Letsie III's birthday. Preparations started before the crowd arrived, with the horses, also wrapped in blankets and balaclavas to keep warm, walked to the arena in song and dance, then brushed and fitted with weather-worn saddles for their races. - Being 'focused' - For many jockeys the track is a rare escape. The country of around 2.3 million people ranks among the world's poorest, its rich mineral wealth overshadowed by sky-high youth unemployment and a troubling rate of suicide. The textile-dependent economy faces further gloom, with fresh uncertainty following tariffs announced by the administration of US President Donald Trump, who earlier this year mocked Lesotho as a place "nobody has ever heard of". The unspoken rule is that you have to forget all your problems or you will fall, jockey Tsaenh Masosa told AFP. "You have to be focused," said the 21-year-old hotel employee, layered in white, pink and blue jackets. Races stretch between 800 and 1,200 metres across a rugged mountain terrain that tests both the rider and horse. Winners pocket up to 1,500 loti ($85) per race, a significant payday in Lesotho, where more than 36 percent of the population lives on less than $2 a day, according to the World Bank. At the trackside, most bets are simple showdowns -- punters backing one horse to outrun another, rather than the overall race winner. There are no tickets or betting slips, just fistfuls of cash, tense stares and quick payouts as money changes hands the moment one horse edges out another at the finish line. - Horses over football - Horses first arrived in Lesotho with European settlers in the 19th century, and over generations, crossbreeding gave rise to the sturdy Basotho pony -- mid-sized, tough and known for its endurance. These ponies, along with cross-breeds and thoroughbreds from neighbouring South Africa, now make up the racing stock. But beyond the track, horses remain part of daily life. In the mountains, they are still used to herd sheep and goats, or to reach remote villages where no roads go. That deep connection runs through the culture. "All the people from Semonkong prefer horse racing to football," said 39-year-old maintenance worker Andreas Motlatsi Mojaje. On the dusty oval, Masosa is still chasing his first win. He has raced seven times, coming closest with a second-place finish, but that has not dulled his hunger. "I like fast horses, it makes me enjoy," he said with a smile.
SBS Australia
2 days ago
- SBS Australia
Vietnam tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay, killing at least 35
Three more bodies have been found after a tourist boat capsized in northern Vietnam's famous Ha Long Bay, raising the death toll to at least 35. The bodies of three crew members, trapped inside the cabin, had been found, the Department of National Defence Search and Rescue said on Sunday. Among the confirmed dead are eight children. A search is continuing for four who are still missing, according to Vietnamese state media. Authorities said earlier reports of 38 dead and five missing were incorrect. The boat, carrying 48 tourists and five crew members, capsized about 2pm on Saturday as Storm Wipha approached the country across the South China Sea. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged authorities to prioritise rescue operations. Ha Long Bay in Vietnam attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Source: PA / Nguyen Van Hai-Barbier Jean Pierre Authorities mobilised 323 personnel for the rescue operation, including border guards, the navy, police and port authorities. Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, spans over 1,500 sq km and is dotted with nearly 2,000 islands and islets. It is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year. Most of the tourists were from the capital Hanoi, local newspaper VnExpress reported. Rescue teams found 11 survivors, the state-run Vietnam News Agency said citing local authorities. A 14-year-old boy was reportedly among the survivors, and he was rescued four hours after being trapped in the overturned hull. Storm Wipha, the third typhoon to hit the South China Sea this year, is projected to make landfall along Vietnam's northern coast early next week. Weather linked to the storm also disrupted air travel. Noi Bai Airport said nine arriving flights were diverted to other airports and three departing flights were temporarily grounded on Saturday.
