From the Accident category

by Amy Ivanov in Accident

Divers are searching for missing passengers and crew after a sightseeing ship capsized in a squall in Halong Bay, Vietnam on Saturday. At least 38 people are confirmed dead. Search and rescue efforts continue for those still missing. The vessel was carrying 53 people – 48 tourists and 5 crew members – all Vietnamese. A diver stated that the passenger area has been searched, but the cockpit and engine room, stuck in mud, remain inaccessible. The ship, called the Wonder Sea, was caught in a storm around 1:30 p.m. local time, causing it to capsize and lose its GPS signal. The navy, border guards, police, and port authorities are involved in the rescue, but heavy rain and limited visibility are hindering operations. Most passengers were from Hanoi, traveling as families, with over 20 children on board. A 10-year-old boy is in stable condition, and a 14-year-old survived after being trapped for four hours. One survivor recounted losing contact with her son, husband, and a friend's family, urging faster rescue efforts. The capsize occurred near Dau Go Cave in Halong Bay, a popular tourist destination and UNESCO World Heritage site.


by Alfred Ignacio in Accident

The body of the last missing person from a boat that capsized on Lake Tahoe during a sudden and powerful weekend thunderstorm was found Monday, bringing the death toll to eight. Ten people were on board the 27-foot gold Chris-Craft vessel when it flipped Saturday afternoon near D.L. Bliss State Park as the storm whipped up high waves. Two people were rescued and taken to a hospital. Six bodies were recovered Saturday, and a seventh on Sunday. Divers found the last body Monday afternoon. The names of the victims will be released after families are notified. Drowning and accidental deaths occur on the lake, but boating accidents with numerous fatalities are rare. The intensity of the thunderstorm surprised forecasters, who predicted rain but not the squall with 35 mph winds and 8-foot waves. The storm's intensity may have been due to unusually low temperatures. Eight-foot waves on Tahoe are significant. Lake Tahoe is a popular summer recreation destination. Officials haven't released details about the group on the boat or whether it was rented or owned. A witness on a pontoon boat described the sudden drop in temperature, near-zero visibility, and the feeling of being in a tsunami. Video showed moored boats crashing into each other in the storm.


by Alice Ibarra in Accident

A tragic hot-air balloon accident in Brazil's Santa Catarina state claimed the lives of eight people. Footage shows the balloon engulfed in flames as it fell from the sky in Praia Grande. Twenty-one people were on board, with thirteen surviving and being hospitalized. The fire originated in the balloon's basket, prompting the pilot's attempt to land. Four people perished from burns, while another four died after jumping from the falling balloon. Three victims died embracing each other. The pilot and twelve passengers managed to escape. Authorities launched an investigation, with results expected within 30 days. The company responsible, Sobrevoar, stated compliance with regulations and a clean safety record before the incident, suspending operations indefinitely. The balloon ride, costing approximately $100 per passenger, was expected to last 45 minutes, reaching an altitude of 1,000 meters. Praia Grande is a popular hot-air ballooning destination, known for its scenic landscapes. This incident follows another balloon accident last week in Sao Paulo, resulting in one death and multiple injuries.


by Amy Ivanov in Accident

At least eight people died in a hot air balloon accident in Praia Grande, Brazil. Twenty-one people were on board; 13 survived. Videos show the balloon catching fire mid-air before falling to the ground. Eyewitnesses described seeing people fall from the balloon before it crashed. The accident is the third involving hot air balloons in Brazil in under a week. A previous incident in São Paulo resulted in one death and the arrest of the pilot. President Lula da Silva offered condolences and government assistance. Praia Grande is a popular hot air balloon destination, especially during June festivities.


by Andrew Ismail in Accident

A tragic hot-air balloon accident in Brazil's Santa Catarina state resulted in eight fatalities and thirteen injuries. The balloon, carrying 21 people including the pilot, caught fire and fell from the sky in Praia Grande. Videos show the balloon engulfed in flames as it plummeted, with people falling from the aircraft. While thirteen passengers managed to escape by jumping, eight perished, four from burns and four from injuries sustained during the fall. Three victims died embracing each other. The pilot attempted an emergency landing after a fire started in the balloon's basket. Authorities have launched an investigation, with results expected within 30 days. The company responsible, Sobrevoar, stated compliance with regulations and a clean safety record before the incident, suspending operations indefinitely. The balloon ride, costing approximately $100 per passenger, was expected to last 45 minutes, reaching an altitude of 1,000 meters. This incident follows another hot air balloon accident last week in Sao Paulo, highlighting safety concerns.


by Aaron Irving in Accident

At least eight people died in a hot air balloon accident in Praia Grande, Santa Catarina, Brazil. 21 people were on board; 13 survived. Videos show the balloon catching fire mid-air before falling to the ground. Eyewitnesses described seeing people fall from the balloon before it crashed. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva offered condolences and support. Praia Grande is a popular hot air ballooning destination. This incident is the third hot air balloon accident in Brazil in under a week. A previous incident in São Paulo resulted in one death and an arrest.


by Arturo Iglesias in Accident

At least 11 people died and more than 30 were injured in a stampede at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, India. Tens of thousands of fans gathered to celebrate the Indian Premier League winners, and a crush occurred as they tried to force entry through a stadium gate. Karnataka state’s Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that the crowd tried to break down a gate to join the celebrations.


by Arturo Iglesias in Accident

A mother and her two daughters were killed in a tragic car crash in Brooklyn on Saturday. The driver, Miriam Yarimi, had a suspended license and a history of reckless driving, including 15 school zone speeding and red-light tickets in the past year. The crash involved an Uber and Yarimi's Audi. The Audi struck Natasha Saada, 35, and her daughters Diana, 7, and Debra, 5, who were walking home from synagogue. Saada's 4-year-old son, Phillip, was also critically injured but underwent successful surgery. The impact was described as like an 'earthquake' by witnesses. Yarimi, a wigmaker, has not yet been charged. The incident occurred in the Midwood section of Brooklyn, leaving the community in shock and mourning. The family was Orthodox Jewish, and the neighborhood was filled with people returning from Sabbath services when the accident happened. Mayor Adams called the accident a tragedy of "Shakespearean proportions."


by Adam Israel in Accident

Miriam Yarimi, 32, a wigmaker with a luxurious lifestyle and a vanity plate reading "WIGM8KER", is accused of causing a fatal car crash in Brooklyn that killed a mother and her two daughters. Driving with a suspended license, Yarimi's Audi collided with another vehicle before striking the family, who were leaving Shabbat services. Yarimi's Instagram displays a lavish lifestyle, including luxury vehicles like a Porsche and an Audi. Court documents reveal she won a $2 million settlement from the NYPD in a lawsuit alleging she was raped by an officer as a minor. Despite this, she accumulated over 93 traffic violations, including speeding tickets and red-light violations, totaling over $10,000 in fines. Police have yet to announce charges in the fatal crash, which claimed the lives of an 8-year-old and 6-year-old, alongside their mother. Yarimi is also a mother of a young child, whose photos frequently appear on her Instagram.


by Amy Ivanov in Accident

A recreational submarine carrying 45 tourists on an underwater tour of coral reefs in the Red Sea sank off the Egyptian resort town of Hurghada, resulting in six deaths and dozens of injuries. The submarine, named "Sindbad," was about 1,000 meters (0.6 miles) offshore when it sank. All six fatalities were Russian citizens, with at least two being children, according to reports. Additionally, 29 of the 39 rescued tourists sustained injuries. The cause of the sinking remains unknown. The submarine, operated by a company that has yet to comment, offered 40-minute underwater tours at depths of 20-25 meters (65-80 feet). While initially reported as carrying only Russian tourists, the Egyptian governor clarified that Indian, Norwegian, and Swedish citizens were also onboard. Footage shows survivors at a hospital, with some appearing unharmed while others receive medical attention. Tourism is a significant part of Egypt's economy, but recent events, including this submarine sinking and previous incidents like a tourist yacht sinking in November, highlight safety concerns in the region.