A tourist speedboat carrying Indian visitors capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, killing 15 Indian tourists in a tragic accident.
The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members when it overturned about 400 metres from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island while returning to An Thoi Port after a sightseeing trip. Hon May Rut Ngoai is located near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand.
Authorities said all 36 people on board have now been accounted for.
15 Indians Dead, 21 Rescued
The accident claimed the lives of 15 Indian nationals, while 21 others were rescued. Among the survivors were 17 passengers and all four crew members. Two of the rescued passengers remain in critical condition and are receiving treatment at a hospital.
According to local police, 21 people were taken to hospital for emergency treatment after the accident.
Victims From Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala
The Indian Embassy in Hanoi released the names of the 15 Indian tourists who lost their lives.
Tamil Nadu
Senthil Kumar Jayavel
Muruga Prabhu Arumugam
Sridhar Sundararajan
Shaik Abdullah Abdul Majeed
Balaji Natesan
Vinaya Kumar Chithapuram Bhaskara
Ravisankar Sugumaran
Santosh Kumar Shantilal Jain
Babu Kuppuswamy
Alagurajan Sivasamay
Andhra Pradesh
Nallapeta Adiseshaiah Raviteja
Sreedhar Mudiam
Jaya Lakshi Gelli
Kerala
Avicot Cheriyan Thomas
Loveni Thomas
According to sources, three residents from Andhra Pradesh were among those killed, while three others from the state were hospitalised.
Passengers Rescued From Rough Seas
Eyewitnesses said nearby boats rushed to rescue passengers who had fallen into the water immediately after the speedboat overturned. Soon after, border guards, the Vietnamese Navy, the Coast Guard and other emergency agencies joined the rescue operation.
Rescue teams faced major difficulties because many passengers were trapped inside the overturned boat. Strong winds and high waves further complicated the operation. Authorities later confirmed that all the bodies had been recovered.
Television footage from Vietnam showed rough seas and strong winds as rescue workers threw life buoys into the water. Jet skis were used to ferry survivors back to shore, where people on the beach provided first aid before ambulances took the injured to hospitals.
Heavy Winds And High Waves Suspected
Nguyen Tien Hai, a provincial official of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, said authorities were still confirming the exact number of survivors immediately after the accident. He said preliminary assessments suggested the speedboat may have overturned due to heavy winds and high waves. Authorities have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the accident.
Prime Minister Modi Responds
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy. He said the tourists were employees of a private mobile phone company who had travelled to Vietnam to attend an annual company meeting.
The Prime Minister also said officials from the Indian Embassy were present at the accident site and assisting the victims and their families.
Indian Embassy Confirms Accident
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed the boat accident shortly after it occurred. In its statement, the Embassy said, “In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago. Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.”
The Embassy said it was gathering more details about the casualties and later released the names of all 32 Indian tourists who had been on board. It also said it is closely coordinating with Vietnamese authorities and extending all possible assistance to the affected families.
Popular Tourist Destination
Phu Quoc, located in the Gulf of Thailand, is one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations. Hon May Rut Island lies around 10 kilometres south of Phu Quoc and is famous for its white-sand beaches and clear blue waters. Visitors usually reach the island by speedboat from the main island.
Phu Quoc has experienced a tourism boom in recent years. More than 1.8 million foreign tourists visited the island last year. Vietnam also recorded a sharp rise in Indian tourists, with over 7.4 lakh Indians visiting the Southeast Asian country in 2025.
Boating Accidents Common In Vietnam
Boating accidents occur regularly in Vietnam, where extreme weather, flooding and poor maintenance have contributed to several tragedies over the years.
In July last year, 39 people were killed when a tourist boat carrying families around the famous Ha Long Bay in northern Vietnam capsized after being hit by a sudden storm. The latest accident near Phu Quoc is one of the deadliest tragedies involving Indian tourists in Vietnam in recent years.
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