Tourist boat with 41 people on board capsizes in Han river in central Vietnam

A tourist boat with 41 people on board capsized in Han River in Vietnam's central Da Nang city on Saturday night, reported an official online newspaper of Da Nang.

According to the report, the boat capsized at around 08:35 p.m. local time (1335 GMT) on Saturday. Le Sau, Director of an agency under Da Nang's Department of Transport said that the tourist boat was operating illegally while the accident happened.

Meanwhile, Tuoi Tre (the Youth) online newspaper said several people swam to the river bank while a number of passengers have been rescued. Searching work are still underway. Tuoi Tre said the boat capsized around five minutes after departed.

It is reported that children and foreigners are among the passengers but the exact number and nationalities are not yet identified.

Da Nang is a famous tourism destination in Vietnam, locating some 600 km south of capital Hanoi.

source : xinhua