Sadly, on Saturday such an accident did occur when a tourist boat capsized in Halong Bay. This diverse UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its picturesque crescent-shaped limestone islands and islets. The accident happened near the popular Dau Go Cave, one of the largest caves on Ha Long Bay. What started as a happy occasion has unfortunately devolved into a tragic loss of life and multiple injuries among the passengers.
What worries rescue teams even more than what has been lost is what continues to go missing. In that time, they’ve rescued 11 folks. A now 14-year-old boy was one of the survivors. He experienced a nightmarish experience, caught in the ship’s submerged hull for almost four hours before rescuers were able to bring him to safety. Furthermore, a 10-year-old boy remains in stable condition after incurring serious injuries during the crash.
The ship was filled with a richly cosmopolitan group of travelers, most of whom were Vietnamese, many from Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. By some accounts, more than 20 children were on board when the boat capsized. Yet, this fact makes the tragedy of the situation even worse. The local officials quickly brought together an unprecedented number of agencies to coordinate and help evacuate those in need.
Rescue operations had required deployment of the armed forces, navy, border guards, police and port authorities. A total of 27 boats and two rescue craft were utilized to search for survivors and recover bodies from the water. Torrential rain and poor visibility caused by nightfall further complicated these operations, making the search for any remaining survivors all the more difficult.
Halong Bay enchants locals and tourists alike with its breathtaking beauty of jagged limestone islands. Both city residents and world travelers pour into this vibrant hot spot. The capsizing of the tourist boat is a serious safety issue. It’s time to take a closer look at the current explosion of these high-flying adventures across the country.
