A Vietnamese man recounted his harrowing escape from a tour boat that capsized in Ha Long Bay.
Local media reported that the tragic incident resulted in at least 35 fatalities, while efforts continue to locate four missing individuals.
Officials also clarified that earlier figures mentioning 38 deaths and five missing were inaccurate.
The tour boat, named Wondersea, had set off for a three-hour excursion in Ha Long Bay, a well-known tourist hotspot, carrying 46 passengers along with three crew members.
As the trip commenced on Saturday afternoon, storm clouds rolled in quickly, bringing heavy winds and rain, according to survivor Dan Anne Tuan.
Tuan explained that the passengers requested a return to shore, but the crew assured them they were close to their destination, choosing to continue the voyage.
“It rained for approximately 15 minutes, and then the boat started to shake violently. The tables and chairs were jolted around, and just seconds later, the boat overturned,” recounted Tuan, a 36-year-old fire extinguisher salesman. “Water rushed in, and I became disoriented.”
“I tried to hold my breath, but then more water poured in. I took a deep breath, removed my life vest, spotted the surface and swam towards it. I escaped the boat, managed to climb onto the upturned hull, and called for help,” he added.
Tuan, along with several others, survived by clinging to the capsized boat, waiting for around two hours for the heavy rain to cease and rescuers to arrive.
The Wondersea was subsequently towed to a shipyard for inspection, showing signs of significant damage, including shattered windows and a compromised roof. Authorities were seen investigating the vessel.
Rescue teams managed to find 11 survivors, though one individual later died in the hospital from injuries sustained during the incident, according to VNexpress.
It was reported that strong winds were primarily responsible for the boat flipping over.
One 14-year-old was rescued four hours after becoming trapped inside the overturned hull.
Many of the passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including around 20 children.
Tuan was on vacation with a group of 11 university friends, out of which only three, including him, survived. He mentioned that while he had only minor injuries, one friend sustained serious head trauma and another had a tendon severed by broken glass during the chaotic escape.
Unfortunately, the other nine members of their group lost their lives, including those traveling with their wife and young son.
His wife and child were also among the victims.
Additionally, tropical storms are approaching the area.
National forecasts indicate that Storm Wifa is expected to hit northern Vietnam, including the coast near Ha Long Bay next week.
