At least 12 people died, including 11 foreigners, when a tourist boat sank in Vietnam’s scenic Halong Bay early Thursday morning, local time.
The Halong Junk named Truong Hai had at least 19 foreign tourists aboard—from the U.S., Britain, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, Australia, France, Switzerland, Sweden, and Russia—plus two nationals and crewmembers when it sank, according to Viet Nam News, a national English daily.
The cause of the accident isn’t yet known, but initial investigations indicate a leak in the engine room might have caused it, reported the newspaper.
The bodies of 11 foreigners and a Vietnamese guide were sent to Bai Chay Hospital for identification, reported Viet Nam News. (Please see below for the list of victims.)
As a precaution, authorities suspended all overnight cruises in the bay until further information about how the accident occurred becomes clear, reported Experience Travel Group that operates custom trips in Vietnam and neighboring countries.
The cause of the accident isn’t yet known, but initial investigations indicate a leak in the engine room might have caused it, reported the newspaper.
The bodies of 11 foreigners and a Vietnamese guide were sent to Bai Chay Hospital for identification, reported Viet Nam News. (Please see below for the list of victims.)
As a precaution, authorities suspended all overnight cruises in the bay until further information about how the accident occurred becomes clear, reported Experience Travel Group that operates custom trips in Vietnam and neighboring countries.
An American survivor, George Fosmire, 23, said his girlfriend had warned him, “Oh my God ... The ship is sinking. We need to get off!” after she was tipped out of bed, reported Australia’s Herald Sun.
