15 Indian tourists die in Vietnam boat capsize

NEW DELHI: A boat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, with 15 people, including 10 from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala, dead, authorities said.

According to a local daily, the speedboat was travelling from Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port when it capsized about 400 metres from the shore. It also reported that the area was experiencing rough sea conditions.

The tour was organised by Vietnam-based Threeland Travel through local coordinating vendor Sai Vietnam, while the Indian tourist group was reportedly associated with Lava Mobile.  Social media photos from the incident have come forward, where rescuers are seen pulling victims out of the water and attempting to revive them.

Witnesses told that nearby boats rushed to the scene of the accident and began pulling out the passengers before Vietnamese border guards, navy and the coastguard arrived. Many of the victims were trapped inside the vessel, making the rescue difficult, local reports said. The Indian Embassy in Vietnam released the names of all 15 Indian nationals who were killed in the tragic accident. Among them, 10 tourists were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.

“It is with profound grief that we share the list of 15 Indian nationals who have lost their lives in the tragic boat accident near Phuc Quoc Island today. The list has been received from the Vietnamese authorities. Our prayers are with the families of the deceased. The Embassy and Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City remain available for any assistance” it said in a post on X.

The Indian mission said control rooms have been established at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and at the Embassy in Hanoi to provide information and assistance.  The first control room can be reached at: +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14 and +84 33 452 0414. The other control room in Hanoi can be reached at: +84 91 308 9165. These numbers are available for any assistance and queries, the Indian mission said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident. In a post on X, he said he was “extremely saddened” by the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. He added that the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam were extending all possible assistance and remained in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities.

Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi urged the Ministry of External Affairs to work closely with the Vietnamese authorities to ensure that every possible effort is made in the ongoing rescue operations and that all necessary assistance is extended to the affected families.

In a social media post, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, “The tragic boat capsizing near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam, carrying Indian tourists, is deeply distressing. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and pray for strength and courage for those anxiously awaiting news of their missing family members.”