Two Brits killed in Vietnam boat disaster

Two Britons are among five people who drowned when their boat overturned in Vietnam.

The British tourists are believed to have been killed in the incident when heavy winds hit the vessel as it retuned from a day trip carrying as many as 25 passengers.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'We can confirm the deaths of two British nationals in Halong Bay on September 24th. Consular assistance is being provided for their families.'

Reports have said the survivors are being treated for shock and hypothermia in nearby hospitals.

Sunny Bui, manager of Cruise Halong, which runs boat trips to Halong Bay, told the BBC: 'There was no warning.

'[Tour operators] usually hear of typhoons and strong winds in the weather forecast, but this was a whirlwind that only lasted for 15 or 20 minutes and nobody knew about it.'