Rescue teams pull a survivor from a boat that capsized, leaving at least 28 passengers dead in Vietnam this afternoon.

The vessel overturned when it was battered by choppy waves and heavy rain off the coast of Ha Long Bay shortly after 2pm local time.

Officials said the ferry was carrying 48 passengers and five crew members. At least 28 have been killed and several more are missing.

The incident comes shortly after the arrival of Storm Wipha in the South China Sea, bringing strong winds, heavy rain and lightning to the area.

Ha Long Bay is one of Vietnam's most popular tourist destinations, with millions of people visiting its blue-green waters and rainforest-topped limestone islands each year.