Overview

• Rescue teams have recovered 37 bodies and saved 11 survivors, with five passengers still unaccounted for as searches continue.
• Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed defense and public security ministries to escalate rescue operations and investigate possible safety breaches.
• Naval divers, border guards and coast guard units are deploying multiple vessels and aircraft to scour Ha Long Bay despite deteriorating weather.
• Forecasts warn that Tropical Storm Wipha is set to make landfall on Vietnam’s northern coast, raising concerns over disruptions to ongoing recovery efforts.
• Authorities have pledged stricter enforcement of safety standards for tourist vessels in the UNESCO World Heritage site following repeated storm-related incidents.