At least 38 people were killed when a tour boat capsized in stormy weather in Ha Long Bay, the beautiful landscape that is a UNESCO World Heritage site in northern Vietnam

 

A Vietnamese man who lived through the capsizing of a tour boat in Ha Long Bay has recounted the terrifying moment when passengers pleaded with the captain to return to shore.The tragic incident claimed at least 38 lives, and five people are still unaccounted for. The Wonder Sea embarked on a three-hour journey around the popular bay early Saturday afternoon, with 48 tourists and five crew members on board. However, a storm swiftly rolled in, bringing fierce winds and lashing rain, according to survivor Dang Anh Tuan.Tuan revealed that despite passengers’ pleas to head back to shore, the crew insisted they were nearly at their destination and continued onwards.

“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 told the Associated Press. “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 managed to survive by clinging to the overturned boat and its propellers, enduring another two hours until the rain ceased and rescue arrived.

Several passengers are still unaccounted for (Image: vnexpress)

Rescue teams managed to save 11 people, but one sadly passed away in hospital due to injuries, reported VNExpress newspaper

The vessel capsized due to severe winds, according to the newspaper. A 14 year old boy was rescued after being trapped for four hours in the upturned hull.

The majority of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including approximately 20 children, the paper reported.

Tuan was on a holiday with 11 mates from university, of whom only three survived. Tuan sustained minor cuts, while one friend suffered multiple head injuries and another’s tendons were severed by shattered glass as he fled the boat through a window

Tragically, the other nine members of their group perished, including one who was accompanied by his wife and 3 year old son, both of whom also drowned.

A tropical storm is also heading towards the region. According to a national weather forecast, Storm Wipha is predicted to strike Vietnam’s northern region next week, including the coast of Ha Long Bay.