A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near Phu Quoc island, Vietnam’s largest island, on Saturday afternoon shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai island. The accident resulted in 15 deaths, with the remains being transported to India on Monday, arriving in Mumbai later that day. According to the Indian Embassy, 10 of the deceased were from Tamil Nadu state, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.
The vessel was operated by the captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, who is currently under investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations, as reported by state media. The tourists were part of a company trip organized by Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer based in Uttar Pradesh, for employees, distributors, and retail partners.
According to survivor accounts, a sudden storm struck the boat, causing large waves to crash into the vessel and triggering panic among passengers. Nirmal Kumar, a 44-year-old businessman on the trip, described the boat rocking violently before capsizing. He noted that passengers rushed from side to side and began jumping into the water as the situation deteriorated. Rescue teams arrived within approximately five minutes and extracted survivors from the water.
Sixteen survivors were initially released from the hospital, though one 49-year-old man remained in critical condition and was transferred Monday to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for specialized treatment. The patient was reported to have severe lung damage, shock, multiple injuries, and brain bleeding sustained during the drowning incident, though doctors noted improvements in blood pressure and oxygen levels.
The capsizing occurred approximately 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, a major tourist destination known for its beaches. India represents one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
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