A sudden thunderstorm with strong squalls capsized a squid-fishing boat off the coast of Thien Cam commune (Ha Tinh), forcing 30 tourists to jump into the sea and struggle through rough waters while awaiting rescue.
On the morning of July 20, representatives from Thien Cam Border Guard Station (Ha Tinh Border Guard Command) confirmed that the boat capsized due to unexpected thunderstorms and strong waves.
After five hours battling large waves and strong winds, rescue teams successfully brought all four crew members and 30 tourists safely back to shore.
Rescue forces assist stranded tourists at sea. Photo: CTV
Rescue efforts underway by local authorities. Photo: CTV
Earlier, at around 7:30 p.m. on July 19, a tourist boat operated by Nguyen Trong Hoang was carrying 30 passengers and 4 crew members to the sea off Thien Cam commune, Ha Tinh province, for a squid-fishing tour. At that time, a sudden storm struck, tilting the vessel and allowing water to flood into the cabin.
Panicked, all 30 tourists jumped overboard, awaiting rescue. The boat later sank near Boc Island, about 0.5 nautical miles from the Thien Cam shoreline.
Upon receiving the distress call, the Thien Cam Border Guard mobilized forces and coordinated with the local authorities to deploy a nearby heavy-duty vessel for the rescue.
Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Van Khoi, head of the Thien Cam Border Guard Station, said the rescue operation was extremely challenging due to rough seas and strong winds. When they reached the scene, all passengers had already jumped into the water. “After the initial rescue, everyone took shelter on Boc Island. Around 12:30 a.m. on July 20, after the storm passed, the tourists and the sunken vessel were safely brought ashore,” he said.
Border guards and locals help tow the distressed boat ashore. Photo: CTV
He added that the tourists have since returned to their hotels and guesthouses to rest and recover from the incident.
In a related development, on the morning of July 20, Nguyen Van Tuan, Chairman of Co Dam commune’s People’s Committee, told VietNamNet that the storm also caused several boats in the area to capsize.
“The sudden downpour and thunderstorms left fishermen with no time to respond. Some vessels overturned. We’ve coordinated with rescue forces, and one fisherman remains missing after his boat capsized. Search efforts are ongoing,” Tuan said.
Tran Duc Ba, Director of the Ha Tinh Hydrometeorological Station, reported that due to the impact of Typhoon No. 3, wind speeds along Ha Tinh's coastal areas are expected to increase to level 6–7, with gusts reaching level 8–9 starting July 21. Waves could rise to 2.0–4.0 meters, causing extremely rough seas.
On land, from the afternoon of July 21 through July 23, the western and southwestern edges of the typhoon are expected to bring widespread rainfall. Southern Ha Tinh is forecast to receive 50–100mm of rain, while the northern region may see 100–200mm, with some areas exceeding 250mm.
Vietnamnet.vn
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