UPDATE: All-night rescue operation for sunken ship in Ha Long Bay

That same evening, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and the Central Working Group went directly to Quang Ninh to direct search and rescue work and visit and encourage families with victims.

Initially, Quang Ninh province has provided support to the families of the deceased victims with 25 million VND/person, and to the injured victims with 8 million VND/person; at the same time, arranged accommodation and supported all accommodation expenses for the victims' families while in Quang Ninh.

The Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command has advised the Provincial People's Committee to establish a search and rescue command post and will carry out search and rescue at night. The command post is established including: Military Region 3 Command, Navy, Border Guard Command, Coast Guard Command, Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee at the headquarters of Border Guard Squadron 2 - Provincial Border Guard Command to continue commanding and operating the search and rescue organization.

Forces and means participating in the search and rescue: Total of 297 people and 46 ships and boats of all kinds, including: Military, Border Guard: 110 people; 6 ships, 9 speedboats; Provincial Police: 40 people; 5 ships, 6 boats; Navy Region 1 Command: 42 people; water commandos: 25 people; 3 ships; Coast Guard Region 1: 25 people; 3 ships; Ha Long Bay Management Board: 25 people; fishermen: 30 people; 14 ships.

Previously, on the afternoon of July 19, the QN 7105 ship, while traveling on route 2, on Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province), capsized due to a sudden storm. According to initial information, there were 48 passengers and 5 crew members on board. The Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command has advised the Provincial People's Committee to establish a search and rescue command center and will deploy search and rescue operations at night.

Immediately after the incident, the Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard directed the Hon Gai Port Border Guard Station to coordinate with other forces to quickly approach the scene to search and rescue.

Comrade Vu Dai Thang, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee, directly directed the rescue work; assigned Comrade Pham Duc An, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, to be present at the scene to direct the rescue work, ensuring the safety of tourists and crew members. Rescue work is being urgently deployed, the highest priority is to ensure the safety of people and tourists.

Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guards approached the scene to rescue victims on the capsized passenger ship.

The Border Guard Command of Quang Ninh province deployed 26 ships, 2 boats and 35 officers and soldiers led by Colonel Tran Van Thanh, Deputy Commander, Chief of Staff to conduct search and rescue at the scene. The ship sank in the Gia Luan Cat Hai area.

At 5:00 p.m. on July 19, Colonel Nguyen Quang Hoa, Commander of the Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard, said that the unit coordinated with other forces to rescue 10 people.

Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guards approached the scene to rescue victims on the capsized passenger ship.

By 5:45 p.m., 10 people had been rescued, including passengers and crew members (Quang Ninh Provincial Border Guard rescued 7 people, civilian boats rescued 3 people); 3 victims' bodies had been recovered.

By 6 p.m., two more survivors were rescued. The total number of people rescued was 12, including passengers and crew members. By 7:40 p.m., the forces had recovered nine bodies. Authorities have yet to determine the total number of people on board at the time of the accident.

Rescue forces at the scene said that search and rescue work is taking place very urgently, but is facing difficulties because it is nighttime.

Until the evening of July 19, the Border Guard, People's Navy and other forces were still urgently conducting search and rescue work.

The participating Navy force includes 4 ships and 2 boats; the Navy Special Forces are equipped with specialized equipment, diving machines, air compressors, and frogman suits for search and rescue.

Quang Ninh Province has directed hospitals to actively treat the victims and handle arising issues. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province has contacted relatives of those involved and contacted hotels and restaurants to arrange accommodation for the victims' relatives so that they can rest and handle the victims' work. Currently, the weather has reduced rain and wind, creating favorable conditions for rescue work.

Officers and soldiers of the Quang Ninh Provincial Military Command and medical staff brought the victim to shore.

Rescuers worked hard all night. Photo: Van Dam

Search and rescue work is still being urgently carried out at night.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha and leaders of Military Region 3, Quang Ninh province directly directed rescue forces at the scene on the night of July 19. Photo: VAN DAM