Two fatal incidents involving passenger vessels unfolded over the weekend in Southeast Asia, leaving at least 40 people dead and several more missing.
Vietnam: Tourist boat capsizes in Ha Long Bay
A tourist boat named Wonder Sea capsized in Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay on Saturday (19 July), killing at least 35 people, with four still missing as of Sunday (20 July). The vessel was carrying 46 passengers and three crew members when it was hit by sudden heavy rain, according to a provincial police report.
Most passengers were families from Hanoi, with over 20 children on board, reported VNExpress. Witnesses described extreme weather conditions, with one local, Tran Trong Hung, telling AFP: “The sky turned dark... hailstones as big as toes with torrential rain, thunderstorms and lightning.”
Rescue operations managed to save 10 people. Among them was a 10-year-old boy who told VietnamNet: “I took a deep breath, swam through a gap, dived then swam up... I was pulled up by a boat with soldiers on.”
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has extended condolences and ordered a full investigation. Authorities also said they would “strictly handle violations.”
Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site, frequently sees high tourist traffic. Last year, 30 vessels sank in Quang Ninh province during Typhoon Yagi.
Indonesia: Ferry catches fire off Sulawesi Coast
On Sunday, 20 July, Indonesia’s KM Barcelona 5 ferry caught fire off Sulawesi island, killing at least five people. The vessel was reportedly carrying 280 passengers on its way to Manado Port when the fire broke out at the stern.
“Five people were reported dead, two of whom have yet to be identified. Meanwhile, 284 people have been evacuated safely,” Indonesia’s Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) said in a statement.
Many passengers were seen jumping overboard wearing life jackets. Fishermen assisted in evacuating victims to nearby islands, while those injured were taken to local medical centres.
The ferry was about an hour from Likupang when the incident occurred, according to George Leo Mercy Randang of the Manado search and rescue agency.
No official cause for the fire has been given. This is the second deadly maritime incident in Indonesia in recent weeks, following the sinking of a ferry off Bali that claimed at least 19 lives.