Boat trips restart in Ly Son Island, 30km off the coast of Quang Ngai Province. (Photo: VNA)Quang Ngai (VNA) – Over 400 residents and tourists were able to travel via boat from Ly Son island to the mainland of Quang Ngai province after being stranded for several days due to rough seas.
Vice Chairwoman of the district's People's Committee Pham Thi Huong said on February 4 that passenger boats re-started their trips from the island to the mainland as of February 3 evening.
"Rough seas that occurred early this week created many troubles for islanders and travellers, as boats could not travel in bad weather with 3m- to 4m-high waves in the sea," Huong said.
"However, boat trips restarted operations when the wind and waves eased on February 3. We contacted the Navy and Border Guard Forces to provide emergency ships to carry local residents from the island to the mainland as well as cargo in preparation for lunar New Year celebrations this weekend," she said.
She said only Navy and Border Guard ships could travel safely on rough seas.
Last year, the island district added more high-speed boat trips between the island and Quang Ngai province's Sa Ky port.
As usual, two boats travelled from the island to Quang Ngai every day, transporting about 1,500 passengers.
The district committee also opened a new sea route connecting Ly Son island to An Binh islet, about three miles away.
Ly Son island, a tranquil destination 30km off the province's coast, is home to about 2,100 residents. Most make their living by fishing and farming garlic and spring onions.
Last week, 124 tourists were stranded on the island, 30km off the central province, as passenger boat services were suspended due to rough seas.
Strong winds and heavy seas often occur in the area when northeast winds blow strongly during winter and cut off fresh food supplies from the mainland as well as daily passenger boats.-VNA
