15 Indian Tourists Killed in Vietnam Speedboat Tragedy as Rescue Teams Respond to Maritime Accident
A tragic maritime accident in southern Vietnam has claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists after a speedboat carrying visitors capsized in rough sea conditions near Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, highlighting ongoing concerns about passenger safety and weather risks in popular tourist waters.
According to local authorities, the speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members when it overturned on Saturday approximately 400 meters from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island in the An Thoi Archipelago, located in the Gulf of Thailand. The vessel is believed to have encountered severe weather, with strong winds and high waves contributing to the accident.
Several tourist boats operating nearby immediately joined the rescue operation, helping to pull passengers from the water and rescue those trapped inside the overturned vessel. Local media reported that 21 people were rescued, while some reports indicate that all 15 victims were Indian nationals.
Hon May Rut Ngoai, situated around 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, is a popular destination for island-hopping tours and attracts thousands of domestic and international visitors each year.
Regional authorities continue search and recovery efforts while working to verify the exact number of casualties and survivors. Nguyen Tien Hai, a senior regional official, said preliminary information suggests the speedboat may have capsized due to heavy winds and rough sea conditions.
“The top priority is rescue, bringing all victims ashore and focusing all efforts on providing emergency care to those who are still alive,” Hai said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences following the tragedy, saying he was “extremely saddened” by the accident involving Indian nationals in Vietnam. He offered
his sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives and wished a speedy recovery to the injured survivors.
The Embassy of India in Vietnam described the incident as tragic and released the list of the 32 Indian nationals who had been on board the vessel. The embassy also established emergency telephone hotlines to provide information and assistance to affected families.
The accident has renewed attention on maritime passenger safety, weather-related navigation risks, and emergency response capabilities in Southeast Asia’s busy tourism and coastal shipping sector.
Read:Three Killed, Two Injured as Tourist Boat Capsizes in Gulf of Oman
