A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized off the coast of southern Vietnam last Saturday afternoon near Phu Quoc, the country’s largest island. The vessel overturned shortly after departing from Hon May Rut Ngoai island, resulting in 15 deaths. The boat’s captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, faced investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations, according to state media reports.
The remains of those killed were transported from Ho Chi Minh City by aircraft on Monday for delivery to Mumbai, the Indian Embassy announced via social media. Among the deceased, ten were from Tamil Nadu state, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala. The tourists were employees, distributors, and retail partners of Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer based in Uttar Pradesh, traveling as part of a company trip.
According to survivor accounts, the accident occurred rapidly when stormy weather struck the area. Nirmal Kumar, 44, a businessman who was aboard the vessel, described how a large wave impacted the boat, causing panic among passengers as the vessel rocked violently before capsizing. He stated that rescue teams arrived within five minutes and pulled survivors from the water. The embassy reported that 16 survivors were discharged from hospital care and returning to India.
One survivor remained hospitalized in critical condition at Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for specialized treatment. Medical staff reported the 49-year-old patient sustained severe lung damage from near-drowning, along with shock, multiple injuries, and bleeding in the brain, though blood pressure and oxygen levels showed improvement. The capsizing location lies approximately 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, a major tourist destination known for white sandy beaches and clear waters that attracts millions of visitors annually. India represents one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
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