Fifteen die in tourist speedboat disaster off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc
A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized 400 metres from Hon May Rut Ngoai island, part of the An Thoi Archipelago, in rough sea conditions on Saturday. The incident took place about 10 kilometres south of Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island. Fifteen people lost their lives, while 21 were rescued by nearby tourist vessels.
Local authorities confirmed the tragedy and noted that the vessel had overturned in high winds and waves. Nguyen Tien Hai, a senior Communist official in the area, said the rescue teams were working “to bring all victims ashore and provide emergency care to survivors.”
The Indian Embassy described the incident as “tragic” and published a full list of the 32 Indian nationals aboard. It also set up telephone hotlines to provide information and assistance to affected families.
Rescue operations were quickly organized, with several nearby vessels rescuing passengers who were trapped inside the capsized speedboat. The full death toll remains under investigation, with officials and emergency services coordinating efforts to confirm the numbers and ensure all survivors receive care.
