Overview
- At least 34 people have been confirmed dead and eight remain missing after the Wonder Sea overturned in a sudden storm on July 19.
- Eleven survivors, including two children who sheltered in air pockets beneath the hull, have been rescued and evacuated to medical facilities.
- Authorities have deployed around 300 personnel from the navy, border guards, maritime police and local forces aboard 27 boats and two rescue vessels for ongoing search efforts.
- Pham Minh Chinh has ordered defense and public security ministries to intensify search-and-rescue missions and launch a full investigation into safety and regulatory lapses.
- The tragedy has renewed scrutiny of maritime safety standards in Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage site that draws millions of visitors annually.