Tragic Boat Capsize in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay Claims 34 Lives

The death toll rises following the dramatic boat accident in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam. 34 people are confirmed dead, and several others are still missing. The boat was caught in the midst of Typhoon Wipha, which is currently ravaging the country.

The accident occurred on Saturday afternoon, local time, in Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province, reports VNexpress.

A sudden storm, named Wipha, struck with strong winds, lightning, and torrential rain where the tourist boat was traveling, eventually causing it to capsize.

Rescue forces and police were dispatched to the scene, and by 8:30 PM, reports indicated that 12 people had been rescued.

34 Dead – Search Continues for More

34 bodies have been found dead so far, but the search continues for additional people who were on board. Among the deceased are eight children. The rescue operation is hampered by the severe weather, with heavy rain and poor visibility in the area.

11 people have been rescued so far.

A total of 53 people were on the boat, many of whom were families with children. Five of the people on board were crew members.

Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is Vietnam's most popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors from around the world each year.

The nationalities of those on board are currently unknown.

Swedish Embassy's Warning to Swedes

The Swedish Embassy in Vietnam issued a strong warning to Swedes in the country ahead of the weekend about the powerful storm Wipha.

"The embassy wants to alert Swedish citizens to Typhoon Wipha, which is expected to reach the South China Sea on July 19 and intensify over the weekend. It may bring heavy rain, flooding, and landslides in northern and central Vietnam. Swedish citizens in the area are urged to follow instructions from local authorities and to always monitor developments through local authorities," the embassy writes.