Toddler 16th victim of Hoi An deadly boat accident

Rescuers found her body in a technical box of the motorboat late Sunday night after having already searched the vessel several times prior, said Nguyen Van Son, chairman of Hoi An Town.

She was wearing a life jacket when found.

On Saturday afternoon, a speedboat operated by Phuong Dong Company was carrying 39 people, including the captain and two crew members, from Hoi An’s Cham Islands to the shore when it was engulfed by large waves around three kilometers from Cua Dai Beach.

Of the 34 people taken to shore within Saturday, 13 were confirmed dead by the evening.

On Sunday, two more bodies were found.

All the victims are tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Captain Le Van Sen said the motorboat had been closed following a standard set by the Ministry of Transport, leaving little space for emergency exit.

Sea areas from central to southern Vietnam have experienced strong winds and rough seas for about a week.

The Cham Islands, about 18 kilometers from Cua Dai Port in Hoi An, is a major tourist destination. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the islands from the shore by motor.