At 1:30 AM on 20/7, the Navy announced that authorities had successfully righted and towed the capsized tourist boat. Three crew members' bodies were found in the cabin, but the captain has not yet been identified. This brings the total number of fatalities to 37, with 11 rescued and 5 still missing after yesterday afternoon's capsizing.

Rescuers are racing against time to find the remaining 5 missing individuals as Typhoon Wipha approaches the Gulf of Tonkin, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Starting tonight, strong winds in the northern Gulf of Tonkin are expected to increase from level 6 to 11, with gusts reaching level 14, creating waves of 2-4 meters, and 3-5 meters near the storm's center.

The boat was towed ashore and righted early in the morning of 20/7. Photo: Navy

The boat was towed ashore and righted early in the morning of 20/7. Photo: Navy

The Vinh Xanh 58 (also known as Wonder Sea) departed at 12:55 PM on 19/7, carrying 48 tourists and 5 crew members on a tour of Ha Long Bay. According to the itinerary, Captain Doan Van Trinh, also the boat's owner, was to take the passengers to visit Cho Da Islet, Dinh Huong Islet, Ga Choi Islet, Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, and Ti Top Island, returning to the port later that afternoon.

However, at 1:30 PM, as the boat reached the east side of Dau Go Cave, the weather suddenly changed from sunny to dark, with strong winds, thunder, lightning, and hail. The wind tipped the boat over, throwing all passengers and crew into the sea. Only the bottom of the 24-meter-long, 12-ton vessel remained above water.

Nearly 300 people from various agencies, including the Navy, Coast Guard, Border Guard, Quang Ninh Province Military Command, along with 30 vessels, were mobilized for the rescue effort. The Navy also dispatched over 20 divers from Brigade 126 to assist in the search.