A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, resulting in 15 deaths. The incident occurred Saturday afternoon shortly after the vessel departed from Hon May Rut Ngoai island. The boat overturned in rough waters during a sudden storm, according to survivor accounts.
The bodies were being transported from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai on a flight expected to arrive late Monday, according to the Indian Embassy. The deceased tourists came from three Indian states: ten from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala. The group was part of a corporate trip organized by Lava International, a smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer based in Uttar Pradesh, for employees, distributors and retail partners.
Survivors described a sudden deterioration in conditions as a large wave struck the boat, causing panic and violent rocking before the vessel capsized. Rescue teams arrived within five minutes and pulled survivors from the water. Sixteen survivors were released from hospitals, while one 49-year-old man remained in critical condition with severe lung damage from near-drowning, shock, multiple injuries and bleeding in the brain. He was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for specialized treatment, where doctors reported improvements in his blood pressure and oxygen levels.
The boat’s captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, age 57, was placed under investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations, according to state media. The incident site is approximately 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, a major tourist destination known for white sandy beaches and clear waters. India represents one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing tourism markets.
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