A tourist boat carrying 53 people capsized Saturday in northern Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay, killing at least 28, including eight children, state media reported.
The vessel overturned shortly after Storm Wipha swept through the South China Sea, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and lightning, according to the official Vietnam News Agency.
Eleven survivors were rescued, though earlier reports placed the number at 12. The nationalities of those on board have not been released. Five crew members were among the passengers.
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its limestone islands and emerald waters. The area draws tens of thousands of tourists annually. Saturday’s incident is among the worst maritime accidents in the region in recent years.