Overview

• The Wonder Sea tour boat capsized on July 19 after sudden heavy rain, strong winds and hail linked to Tropical Storm Wipha overturned the vessel in Ha Long Bay.
• State media and officials have confirmed 37 fatalities, including more than 20 children, while five people remain unaccounted for among 48 passengers and five crew.
• Navy divers, border guards and public security teams have deployed over 27 vessels and hundreds of personnel to scour the bay under challenging weather conditions.
• Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh dispatched defence and public security ministries to lead urgent rescue efforts and issued condolences to the victims’ families.
• Meteorological forecasts indicate that Tropical Storm Wipha will make landfall along northern Vietnam’s coast early next week, raising concerns over further disruptions to maritime operations.