At 10:00 p.m. on July 19, Dr. Ha Anh Duc, Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment (Ministry of Health), confirmed to VietNamNet that his department had received an initial report from Quang Ninh’s Department of Health regarding the Wonder Sea cruise boat accident involving 53 passengers, which capsized during a sudden storm that afternoon.

According to the report, 40 victims were transported to Quang Ninh General Hospital and Bai Chay Hospital. “Among them, 10 people are currently receiving care and treatment,” Dr. Duc stated.

Specifically, Quang Ninh General Hospital admitted 10 cases: one deceased patient was transferred to the morgue, while nine others are being treated.

Bai Chay Hospital received 30 cases: 29 of them were confirmed dead and transferred to the mortuary at Viet Hung ward, while one patient was hospitalized. “All patients are in temporarily stable condition,” Dr. Ha Anh Duc added.

Dr. Le Ngoc Dung, a Level II specialist and Director of Bai Chay Hospital, said the emergency case there was a 10-year-old boy who arrived at the hospital conscious but anxious, with multiple abrasions.

“The child received initial care from our medical team and is gradually stabilizing,” Dr. Dung told VietNamNet. At the time of admission, no information about the boy’s parents had been confirmed.

Dr. Dung also shared that immediately upon receiving news of the accident, the hospital dispatched three ambulances with three medical teams to the scene for on-site care and patient transport.

Quang Ninh’s Department of Health said that upon learning of the accident, it instructed Quang Ninh General Hospital, Bai Chay Hospital, Cam Pha General Hospital, and others to prepare available beds, staff, medications, and medical equipment for emergency treatment. Four ambulances were deployed at Squadron 2 and twelve more were stationed at the old ferry terminal, all ready for immediate response and patient transport to medical facilities.

To ensure timely emergency care, the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment issued a directive urging the Quang Ninh Department of Health to continue directing medical facilities to remain on full alert, concentrate all available personnel and expertise, and work closely with specialized hospitals and leading experts to coordinate treatment.

“In cases beyond the professional capacity of local hospitals, patients must be urgently transferred to facilities with higher or more advanced expertise to ensure the best outcomes and minimize fatalities,” the directive stated.

The Ministry of Health also urged hospitals to provide both medical and psychological support to help victims and their families recover from the trauma.

As reported by VietNamNet correspondents on the ground, by 10:00 p.m. on July 19, ten people had been rescued and 34 bodies recovered.

Vo Thu