A tourist cruise boat burst into flames on Sunday midnight when docking at Tuan Chau Port in northern Quang Ninh Province. Two people on board escaped just in time.

Three fire on wooden boats have been reported in Quang Ninh Province’s Ha Long Bay since the begining of this year. 

The flames reportedly originated in the cabin of the wooden boat named Huy Loc QN 3883. The boat was built in 2008 with the capacity to carry 48 passengers. It was used to carry people for sightseeing in Ha Long Bay.

As soon as the fire was reported, 22 firefighters and two boats were mobilised to extinguish the fire, Nguyen Duc Long, chairman of Quang Ninh Province People’s Committee, said.

A pumping boat of the Long Hai Transport Services Ltd Company was asked to pump water from the boat to prevent it from sinking.

The case is under further investigation.

This is the third fire on wooden boats since the beginning of this year and the 14th boat fire in almost seven years on Ha Long Bay. 

VNS