Vietnam boat capsize: 15 Indian tourists killed near Phu Quoc Island

Hanoi: A speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, killing 15 people and injuring 21 others.

Local media reports confirm that rescuers rushed 21 survivors to nearby medical facilities for emergency treatment following the accident.

While local authorities continue their search and rescue operations, the exact cause of the tragedy remains unknown, according to the Indian Embassy in Vietnam.

“In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago,” the Embassy of India in Hanoi posted on X. “Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.”

Control Rooms Established for Families

To assist affected families, the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and the embassy in Hanoi have established dedicated emergency control rooms.

Technical Malfunction Behind the Tragedy

Vietnamese news outlet VnExpress reported that the Ocean Pear Island Company speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists, a flight attendant, and four crew members when it capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai island.

According to officials from the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, the vessel suffered an unexpected technical malfunction and overturned around 1 PM.

Nearby tourist boats immediately rushed to the scene to rescue survivors. The An Thoi Port Border Guard Station confirmed the fatalities include 13 men and two women.

The Guard station deployed two vessels and 35 officers to coordinate ongoing search efforts with the Vietnamese Navy and Coast Guard.

May Rut Ngoai Island is a highly popular destination for coral reef diving, drawing visitors who typically take a 20-to-40-minute speedboat ride to reach the location.

Are you planning to add emergency contact numbers for the control rooms to this post once the embassy releases them?