Canoe sinking leaves 17 injured and missing: First mate recounts terrifying moment

Recently, Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee (Quang Nam province), confirmed that there had just been a canoe sinking in the Cua Dai beach area, leaving many people missing.

Mr. Son said that he is currently at the scene to direct the search and rescue. "Initially, we determined that there were 39 people on the canoe, 20 people were rescued. In addition, 5 people were confirmed dead, now more than 10 people are missing. We are focusing our search and rescue forces. The injured victims were taken to two local hospitals for treatment," Mr. Son said.

Initial information, noon of the same day, the canoe carrying passengers from Cu Lao Cham Island to Cua Dai (Hoi An City) suddenly crashed. When approaching the port, the canoe overturned causing 39 people to fall into the sea. According to initial information, the ship was sunk by waves with the number Qna-1151, carrying tourists to Cu Lao Cham (Tan Hiep commune, Hoi An city) at 13:45 on February 26. When it was about 1km from Cua Dai port, the ship was suddenly sunk by waves.

Around 16:30, many people gathered in Cua Dai beach area to watch the functional forces search for the missing victims.

At 16:50, according to the latest information from Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee (Quang Nam province) said that up to this point, at least 10 people have died in the canoe sinking.

At 17:25, Sharing with PV, Mr. Phan Viet Cuong - Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee said that the functional forces had brought 34 people ashore, of which 11 had died, 2 were in critical condition.

Besides, there are still 5 people missing, including 3 adults and 2 children. Currently mobilizing all forces to join the search. At the same time, it is asking the military zone 5 to send helicopters to participate in the rescue.

18:08, According to the latest information, 2 critical victims did not survive. Thus, the total number of deaths in the canoe sinking was 13 people. Currently, four people are still missing.

At 19:00, hundreds of people and functional forces are still actively searching for 4 missing victims, and trying to salvage the sunken canoe. Mr. Tran Van Tan - Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee was present at the scene to direct the search.

At 21:11, the functional force stopped the search.

"The weather is too dark, the area where the canoe has a big wave and high wind, so the search is very difficult. In the early morning tomorrow (February 27), we will mobilize forces and vehicles to continue searching. At the same time, coordinate with the 372nd Division to mobilize helicopters to support the search," said Mr. Phan Viet Cuong, Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee.

Still not out of fear because just escaped from the hand of death, Nguyen Xuan Vinh (14 years old, living in Dong Anh district, Hanoi) said, her family went to Da Nang from Hanoi to travel. After that, the whole family went to Hoi An city to go to Cu Lao Cham island to play. About 2 o'clock, my family got on a canoe back to the mainland. However, when the canoe carrying 39 passengers was on the shore, suddenly a big wave overturned, causing everyone to fall into the water.

"At that time, I was wearing a life jacket and floating on the sea. After more than 30 minutes, the rescue force brought me to shore. Now my health is stable," Vinh said.

His eyes were bloodshot because he was too scared by what was happening, Mr. Tran Van Quy (40 years old) the first captain of the canoe had an accident on the waters of Cua Dai (Quang Nam) with a trembling voice said, on the afternoon of February 26, Mr. with the captain, Mr. Vo Le Sen (residing in Cua Dai ward, Hoi An) carried a group of nearly 40 people from Cu Lao Cham to Cua Dai.

"I sat at the back of the train to observe the passengers. When the train was near, the waves hit the ship, the water flooded in. At this point, the scene was very panic. I shouted everyone to calm down but no one listened. at all," Quy said.

Quy added that everyone on board was wearing life jackets, but most "couldn't escape" because the ceiling was tight and everyone was trapped in the ship. "When I came back to my senses, I hurriedly dived into the water to save someone or that person. Having rescued more than a dozen people, everything was so quiet that I was also exhausted at this time. The incident happened too quickly, no one had time to turn back," Quy recalled.

As a boat running after the overturned canoe and participating in the rescue, Mr. Tran Van Cu (SN 1975) said that at about 2 o'clock, the Orient ship ran ahead and encountered shallow water and huge waves, so this canoe was tilted and overturned by the waves. "At that time, my train was 100m away from the Orient train, and I was shocked to see this boat capsized. Passengers cried a lot. I immediately ran to the authorities and I myself ran out to save people's lives." , Mr. Cu recalled. Currently, the bodies of the ill-fated victims have been transferred to the funeral home of Hoi An city to wait for their relatives to receive them.

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