CNN
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Divers are still searching for passengers and crew who are still missing after a tourist boat that was encapsulated in Squall, a popular tourist destination in Vietnam on Saturday. At least 34 bodies were recovered and an additional 11 people were rescued.
According to VN Express, the still-missing person reported having 53 people, including 48 tourists and five crew members. The nationality of the people on board has not been stated yet.
In an interview with State Media Outlet Vietnamnet, the 64-year-old diver on the scene said much of the ship’s passenger area had been searched. However, the cockpit and engine compartment are clogged with mud, making it difficult to reach.
“At this point, I’m sure there are no more bodies in the passenger seat,” said diver Vie Kion. “I’m worried that some bodies may be floating outside.”
VN Express reported that the ship, known as the Wonder Sea, was caught in a storm around 1:30 PM local time (2:30 AM ET). They then lost their GPS signal, according to an outlet cited the Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee.
VN Express was mobilized to the scene, along with navy, border guards, police, port authorities and 27 boats and two rescue vessels, adding that heavy rains from dusk and limited visibility have made rescue operations difficult.
According to VN Express, most passengers traveled as a family from the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.
More than 20 children were on board, according to VN Express. Citing the local hospital’s director, the outlet reported that the 10-year-old was in stable condition after suffering multiple injuries.
He also reported that the 14-year-old boy survived after being trapped in the ship’s sunk cabin for four hours, citing the witness and deputy chief of the HA Long Cruise Ship Association.
The state broadcaster VTV has recovered at a local hospital and interviewed survivor Dang Thuy Linh.
“I have lost contact with my son, husband and friends’ whole family,” Dan told VTV.
“What I’m looking for now is for everyone to speed up their rescue missions and save all of them,” Dan added. “Don’t let anyone get on that boat. There’s very little air left. There’s very little chance of survival.”
The Capsys reportedly took place near the Dow Go Cave.
Halong Bay is a popular tourist hotspot and a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of around 1,600 limestone islands and islands.
