Search and rescue forces have mobilised boats and divers to join the search for victims of the helicopter crash. VNA/VNS Photo

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has ordered authorities to increase their search efforts to find the two people still missing.

On Wednesday evening, the Bell-505 helicopter, owned by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company under the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation (Army Corps 18), was taking four Vietnamese tourists sightseeing over the bay in Quảng Ninh Province when it got into difficulties.

On Thursday, Deputy Prime Minister Trần Lưu Quang signed a Prime Minister’s dispatch ordering the Ministry of National Defence to investigate into the incident, review all flight control procedures, fix shortcomings and ensure utmost safety for flights.

The ministry has also been told to support the family of the pilot, Colonel Chu Quang Minh. The other people on board have been named as Hồ Tá Lực, Nguyễn Thị Hội, Hồ Thị Oanh, and Phạm Thị Bê.

The National Committee on Incident and Disaster Response, Search and Rescue is requested to follow up search and rescue activities, mobilising forces and vehicles for the work.

Meanwhile, the Chairmen of Hải Phòng City and Quảng Ninh Province are asked to coordinate with the Ministry of National Defence during search and rescue activities and support families of the people on board.

They have also called on any vessels in the area to assist in the search.

At the same time, the Ministry of Transport is directed to provide support in forces, vehicles and necessary equipment for search and rescue activities.

On Wednesday night, the Traffic Police Department sent two working groups with 21 officers and three vessels to the site to search for the remaining victims.

On Thursday morning, more than 200 people and 30 vehicles of all kinds were mobilised for search and rescue activities.

A Bell-505 helicopter coded VN-8650, owned by the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company under the Vietnam Helicopter Corporation, took off at 4:56pm and lost contact at 5:15pm on April 5 while carrying four Vietnamese tourists on a sightseeing tour of Ha Long Bay from above.

The Ministry of National Defence’s Department of Information and Training reported on April 5 that the helicopter was piloted by Colonel Chu Quang Minh.

Right after the helicopter lost contact, the Northern Vietnam Helicopter Company immediately coordinated with the local border guard and military forces to urgently deploy search and rescue operations.

At 7:18pm, the forces reported that they had recovered two bodies and some debris believed to be from the helicopter at the edge of the shore. — VNS/VNN/VNA