A handout photo by Vietnam News Agency shows rescuers searching for victims after a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province, Vietnam, 19 July 2025. At least 38 people died and several are missing after a tourist boat carrying 53 people onboard capsized in Ha Long Bay on 19 July, according to media reports. Photo: VCG

An official report on Sunday regarding the accident in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, said that the capsized cruise ship had 49 people on board — 46 passengers and 3 crew members — revising the previously reported total of 53. As of 1:40 am Sunday, rescuers had saved 10 people and recovered the bodies of 35, with 4 still missing, according to CCTV News on Sunday.

At around 1:30 pm on Saturday, the vessel was caught in a sudden storm. By 2:05 pm, it had lost contact and subsequently sank, according to Xinhua.

Authorities have yet to confirm the tourists' nationalities and continue searching for missing people, The Independent reported.

The Independent reported Saturday that the boat was carrying 53 people, including five crew members, when it overturned around 2 pm local time amid sudden strong winds and a thunderstorm. Most passengers were tourists from Hanoi, including about 20 children, the People's Army Newspaper said, citing local border guards.

As of early Sunday morning local time, search and rescue efforts continued for those still missing, according to state media outlet Vietnamnet.

The navy, border guards, police and port authorities — along with 27 boats and two rescue craft — were mobilized to the scene, VN Express reported, adding that heavy rain and limited visibility due to nightfall hampered rescue operations.

CNN reported that a 14-year-old boy survived after being trapped inside the ship's sunken cabin for four hours.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ha Long Bay is a popular tourist hotspot with about 1,600 limestone islands and islets, CNN noted.

The Vietnam boat tragedy has gripped the hearts of Chinese netizens, with many expressing deep concern over the incident.

"A 14-year-old boy endured four hours in a pitch-black ship cabin… It's hard to imagine the terror he must have gone through! May the deceased rest in peace, and may the living find strength. Let's hope rescuers find the missing soon!" wrote a Chinese netizen. Some are also concerned about whether any fellow Chinese citizens were aboard the vessel.

Global Times