VietNamNet Bridge – A floating restaurant in southern Ninh Thuan Province’s Vinh Hy Bay suddenly sank on Saturday morning, knocking hundreds of tourists into the sea, of which two were killed and four others injured.


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A scene from the sunken floating restaurant in southern Ninh Thuan Province’s Vinh Hy Bay. The floating restaurant sank on Saturday, killing two people and injuring four others. Hundreds of tourists, including many children, fell into the sea, which is reportedly 2.5 metres deep. - VNA/VNS Photo Cong Thu

 

 

The restaurant of Vinh Tien Tourism Company at Vinh Hy Bay in Vinh Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District was serving some 300 diners when its pier collapsed. It quickly capsized, tipping people, including many children, into the sea.

The location of the restaurant was reportedly 50 metres from the shore and the water was 2.5 metres deep.

Two people, identified as Nguyen Thi Lieu Chi, 23, and Dinh Cong Duan, 29, died in the accident. Four injured people have been hospitalised for treatment.

On Saturday afternoon, the provincial People’s Committee promptly held an urgent meeting.

Vice chairman of the committee, Tran Quoc Nam, said the incident happened when another tourist boat of Vinh Tien Tourism Company hit the floating restaurant with a strong wave, causing tourists to panic.

They rushed into a corner of the restaurant, making it tilt and sink on one side.

Nam stressed that the committee has asked the authorised agencies to investigate the incident as soon as possible.

The committee also suspended the operation of floating restaurants and tourist boats in the bay until the investigation of the case was completed.

Initial investigation showed that the floating restaurant of Vinh Tien Tourism Company owned a business operation certificate, but failed to show the domestic wharf business registration certificate.

The floating restaurant was built on a 200-square-meter wooden raft on top of plastic containers.

Vinh Hy Bay has been known as a tourist attraction site in the southeastern province of Ninh Thuan.

 

VNS