HANOI, Vietnam – The death toll from a tourist boat capsizing in Vietnam's picturesque Halong Bay has risen to 34, state media reported Monday, as emergency crews continue a grim search for more victims. Eleven survivors have been rescued from the water following the incident on Saturday afternoon.

The vessel, identified as the Phuong Dong 7, was carrying 42 passengers, including a significant number of foreign tourists, and seven crew members when it overturned and sank. The tragedy has cast a dark shadow over one of Southeast Asia’s most iconic UNESCO World Heritage sites, prompting urgent questions about tourist safety protocols in the region.

According to Vietnam's National Committee for Incident, Disaster Response and Search and Rescue, the boat encountered sudden, severe weather that was not in the local forecast. Survivors described a powerful squall with high winds and torrential rain that appeared with little warning, quickly overwhelming the vessel.

Desperate Search Amidst Iconic Scenery

Rescue operations have been ongoing since Saturday evening, involving hundreds of personnel from the Vietnamese Navy, coast guard, and local fishing communities. Divers are navigating challenging conditions, including strong underwater currents and poor visibility, as they search the submerged vessel and the surrounding area.

"Our teams are working around the clock," an official from the Quang Ninh provincial government told state-run Vietnam Television (VTV). "The priority is to locate anyone who may still be missing and to recover all the victims to return them to their families."

The search area has been expanded as currents may have carried victims further from the wreck site. Floating debris, including life jackets and personal belongings, has been spotted several kilometers from where the Phuong Dong 7 went down. The 11 survivors, a mix of tourists and crew, are being treated in a nearby hospital for injuries and shock.

Questions Mount as Investigation Begins

Vietnam’s Ministry of Transport has launched a full-scale investigation into the disaster. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered officials to "swiftly clarify the cause of the accident and strictly handle any violations."

Investigators will focus on several key factors: the boat's seaworthiness, whether it was carrying more passengers than its certified capacity, and the crew's response to the sudden change in weather. The Phuong Dong 7 was a traditional-style wooden "junk" boat, a popular choice for tourists seeking an authentic Halong Bay experience. While these boats are a major draw, their safety standards have faced scrutiny in the past.

In 2011, an overnight tourist boat sank in the same bay, killing 12 people and leading to a review of regulations, including a ban on overnight trips on certain types of older boats and enhanced safety inspection requirements. The current investigation will determine if the Phuong Dong 7 and its operating company were in compliance with these updated rules.

A Blow to a Tourism-Reliant Economy

Halong Bay, famed for its thousands of limestone karsts and islets rising from emerald waters, is a cornerstone of Vietnam's tourism industry, attracting millions of domestic and international visitors each year. This incident is a devastating blow as the country continues to rebuild its tourism sector in the post-pandemic era.

Embassies of several nations are now working with Vietnamese authorities to confirm the identities of the foreign nationals involved and provide consular assistance to the survivors and the families of the deceased.

As the recovery efforts continue, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers that can accompany adventure tourism, even in a location renowned for its beauty. The findings of the investigation will be critical in determining what went wrong and what must be done to prevent such a disaster from happening again.