A total of 47 people have been recovered, including 10 survivors and 37 confirmed dead, after a cruise ship capsized in Ha Long Bay, northern Vietnam, Vietnam News Agency reported on Sunday.

The wreck was salvaged and towed ashore on early on Sunday morning for further investigation.

The ship sank on Saturday afternoon while carrying 48 Vietnamese tourists on a sightseeing tour.

Five crew members were also on board.

Authorities in Quang Ninh province deployed four large vessels and core rescue forces to support the salvage operation.

Rescue teams are now racing to search for missing people as Typhoon Wipha is approaching the area.

Despite a calm sea, rescuers, from police and border guards to divers and navy personnel, were battling limited visibility hours before the expected landfall in northern Vietnam of Typhoon Wipha, which is now approaching Hong Kong.

The government said rescuers had managed to retrieve the sunken boat and revised down the death toll to 35 from an initial 38 on Saturday, while cutting an estimate of those aboard to 49 from 53, though officials fear the toll could still rise.

All the tourists aboard were Vietnamese, including several children, the official Vietnam News Agency said.

“My brother can swim, but I was told everything happened too fast,” Tran Trung Tu, 39, whose sibling was 32, told Reuters at a funeral parlour on Sunday.

The accident was one of the worst in recent years in the UNESCO-protected archipelago of thousands of limestone islands about 200 km (125 miles) northeast of Hanoi, which draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.

The sudden thunderstorm turned the sky dark in a matter of minutes, felling trees in the capital of Hanoi, where officials at the Noi Bai international airport said nine flights were diverted and three departures temporarily halted.

“It is the first time I have experienced an accident with so many casualties here,” said insurance agent Do Thi Thuy.

A tour boat sank in Halong Bay in 2011, killing 12, with some foreign tourists among them.

The government said the accident was caused by a “sudden” storm. Strong winds, heavy rain and lightning were reported around the time of the event, at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

“I was told life vests were available, but it was too sudden,” said Do Van Hai, 42, a Halong resident. “Hopefully, the missing ones will be found soon.”

Agencies

StarCruises has renewed its collaboration with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, building on its 2023 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partnership.

The company said in a press release that in 2025, its summer charity cruise welcomed over 20 underprivileged families, comprising more than 60 guests onboard the Star Voyager.

“As part of our ongoing CSR initiatives in the communities where we homeport and visit, we are pleased to once again collaborate with the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals in Hong Kong,” said Michael Goh, president of StarDream Cruises.

“This meaningful cruise journey aims to bring joy and lasting memories to families in need. Cruise travel is more than a leisure experience; it also helps children broaden their horizons and gain valuable life knowledge,” added Goh.

The ship set sail on a three-day cruise to Kaohsiung, offering children of all ages from the group a unique opportunity to learn and have fun aboard.

The “Summer Voyage” featured the “Little Dreamers” experience, where children discover dining etiquette, shipboard knowledge and life jacket safety through hands-on activities and guided tours, the company said.

In the “Little Captain” session, young participants stepped into the role of ship officers to explore basic nautical skills and safety procedures. In addition, the “Little Butler” workshop allowed children to experience hospitality firsthand by learning dining etiquette and service techniques.

According to the press release, the sailing was the first-ever cruise experience for many of the families.

In Kaohsiung, guests explored cultural highlights, including the Pier-2 Art Center and Cijin Old Street. Back onboard, guests had the opportunity to enjoy the ship’s dining, entertainment and recreational facilities.