(CNN) -- At least 12 people died when a tour boat on Vietnam's Halong Bay sank early Thursday, an official said.
The dead included 10 foreigners -- from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan and France -- and two Vietnamese, according to Ngo Van Hung, director of the Halong Bay managing board.
The bodies had been taken to a local hospital for identification, he said. One of the Vietnamese was the tour guide.
Fifteen people, including nine foreigners, were rescued following the incident, according to Do Thong, vice president of Quang Ninh province.
Authorities believe the vessel sank when a plank on the boat ripped away and are investigating the incident. CNN
