A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near the shore off southern Vietnam last week, resulting in 15 deaths. The incident occurred shortly after the vessel departed from Hon May Rut Ngoai island near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island. The remains were being transported from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai on Monday, according to the Indian Embassy.
According to survivor accounts, a sudden storm with large waves struck the boat, causing panic among passengers. Nirmal Kumar, a businessman who was aboard, described how a large wave crashed into the vessel, leading to violent rocking in rough waters and ultimately the capsizing. He said passengers rushed to different sides of the boat before jumping into the water. Rescue teams arrived within five minutes and pulled survivors from the water.
Vietnam’s state media identified the boat’s captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, as being under investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations. The group of tourists was part of a company trip organized by Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer based in Uttar Pradesh. Ten of the deceased were from Tamil Nadu state, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.
As of the latest reports, 16 survivors had been released from the hospital and were returning to India. One survivor remained in critical condition and was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for specialized treatment. Medical officials noted the patient had severe lung damage from near-drowning along with shock, multiple injuries, and brain bleeding, though blood pressure and oxygen levels had shown improvement.
The capsizing occurred approximately 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, a major tourist destination known for white sandy beaches and clear waters. India has become one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing tourism markets in recent years.
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