Tourists Stranded on Southern Island due to Rough Seas

Thousands of tourists have been stranded on Phu Quoc Island off southern Vietnam due to rough seas triggered by a tropical depression, local media said.

 

The tourists could not fly out of Phu Quoc island of Kien Giang province either, as all flights were booked as weekends are peak times on the resort island.

 

National carrier Vietnam Airlines’ flights to the province’s Rach Gia Town and Ho Chi Minh City in the mainland have all been booked until the 11th and 16th of this month, an airline official said.

 

Weather conditions are forecast to worsen in the next few days, Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted Vietnamese meteorologists.

 

Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to the island have been operating, but with reduced frequency.

 

Trinh Cong Phat, a tourist agent, said as he was booking ship tickets for his clients last Sunday night, he was told to wait till the next day to see if boats can be launched.

 

Local authorities and concerned agencies are doing their best to transport visitors off the island.

 

In other seafaring news a hydrofoil named Vina Express 3, of Saigon Tourism and Maritime Service Company, on its route from Vung Tau resort to Ho Chi Minh City had its blades warped on Sunday, ripping the boat’s underside. Luckily all 80 passengers were safe and were transported to another ship later. (Local sources)