How a Vietnam island-hopping tour ended in tragedy for 15 Indians

Vietnam Boat Accident: The speedboat overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai, near Phu Quoc Island, while it was carrying tourists from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port, according to Vietnamese news outlet VNExpress.

In Short

• High tide initially slowed rescue efforts
• Many tourists remained trapped inside boat for hours
• Nearby tourist boats pulled out some survivors

An island-hopping tour through the turquoise waters of Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island turned into a nightmare on Saturday afternoon when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists capsized in rough seas, leaving at least 15 people dead and the survivors trapped inside the overturned vessel for hours before they were rescued.

The speedboat overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai while ferrying tourists from May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port in Phu Quoc Island, according to Vietnamese news outlet VNExpress.

Comprising May Rut Trong and May Rut Ngoai, May Rut Islet is among Vietnam's most sought-after island-hopping destinations. Located about 10-12 kilometres south of An Thoi, the tropical island is known for its crystal-clear waters, white-sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs, attracting thousands of visitors each year for snorkelling, diving and day cruises.

The scenic journey, which usually takes between 20 and 40 minutes by boat or speedboat, was cut short when the vessel encountered rough seas and capsized at around 1 pm (local time).

ROUGH SEAS HAMPERED RESCUE

High tides initially hampered rescue operations, with several tourists trapped inside the overturned boat. Local eyewitnesses said the challenging conditions made it difficult for rescuers to reach those inside until authorities arrived.

Even so, nearby boats rushed to the scene and began pulling survivors from the water. The rescue effort was later reinforced after the Border Guards deployed two vessels and 35 officers and soldiers, allowing the operation to gather pace.

Within a few hours, rescue teams had accounted for all 32 passengers. At least 15 people were confirmed dead, while the remaining tourists survived the accident.

The company operating the speedboat said the driver, in his mid-50s, had years of experience ferrying passengers on the route, even as authorities continued investigating the circumstances behind the deadly accident.

INDIAN EMBASSY SETS UP CONTROL ROOM

As news of the tragedy emerged, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam said it was closely coordinating with local authorities and set up dedicated control rooms in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to assist the families of those on board.

"In order to provide information and assistance to affected families, a Control Room at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City has been set up, which can be reached at : +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14 and +84 33 452 0414. A Control room has been established in Hanoi and can be reached at +84 91 308 9165. We are available for any assistance and queries," the Embassy posted on X.

The embassy also released the names of the 32 Indian tourists who were travelling on the ill-fated speedboat.

The Embassy also said it was working to ascertain the exact circumstances surrounding the incident as Vietnamese authorities carried out search and rescue operations.

PM MODI CONDOLES DEATHS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the speedboat tragedy in Vietnam and assured that the Indian mission in Hanoi was extending all possible assistance to those affected.

In a post on X, Modi said he was "extremely saddened" by the incident, offered condolences to the bereaved families, and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

He added that the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam were in close contact with local authorities as rescue and relief efforts continued following the accident involving 32 Indian tourists and four crew members.

SOUTH INDIA UNITED IN TRAGEDY

The boat accident sent shock waves across Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. As details of the victims emerged, governments in the three states moved swiftly to coordinate with authorities in Vietnam, assist survivors and support the bereaved families.

Tamil Nadu bore the heaviest loss, with 10 of the 15 victims belonging to the state.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed grief over the deaths and said officials had been directed to coordinate with Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to provide assistance to affected families.

The victims from Tamil Nadu included 44-year-old Murugaprabhu from Dindigul and 47-year-old Alaguraj from Kirapatti.

Three tourists from Andhra Pradesh also lost their lives in the tragedy. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said 19 tourists from the state were among those travelling on the ill-fated boat and directed officials to coordinate with authorities, provide assistance to families and make arrangements for bringing back survivors.

Among those killed from Andhra Pradesh were 41-year-old Ravi Teja from Hindupuram and Sridhar, a mobile shop owner from Kadapa.

In Kerala, Chief Minister VD Satheesan directed the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department to coordinate with the Vietnam Embassy and the Ministry of External Affairs after two Kerala residents were reported dead in the accident.

The two victims were identified as AC Thomas (57) and his wife Loveni Thomas (56), residents of Kottarakkara in Kollam district.

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