Vietnam boat tragedy: 15 Indian tourists killed as speedboat capsizes near Phu Quoc

New Delhi, India Jul 11, 2026 ALN: Fifteen Indian tourists were killed and 21 others rescued after a speedboat carrying an Indian tour group capsized off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, prompting rescue operations, official responses from Indian states, and an investigation by the Vietnamese government into the cause of the accident.

According to Vietnamese authorities, the speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members when it overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island in the An Thoi archipelago, shortly after departing for An Thoi Port.

The Indian Embassy in Hanoi confirmed that 15 Indian nationals had died in the accident. Among the victims were 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala, according to a list shared by the embassy on X. Two of the deceased were women.

According to the Associated Press, the boat capsized less than half a kilometre from shore.

"The boat had not even gone half a kilometre when it just tipped over," Ashish Kumar, an Indian tourist who witnessed the accident, told AP. "We screamed, 'Help! Help!'"

Kumar said nearby tourist boats immediately rushed to rescue those in the water but alleged that emergency medical care was not readily available when survivors were brought ashore.

He said some of the passengers were part of a company-sponsored incentive tour organised for employees and business partners of a smartphone and consumer electronics company. Three of his friends were on the boat, he said, adding that two died while another remained in critical condition.

Lava International confirmed that some of its employees and channel partners were among those involved in the accident, said AP.

"Our immediate priority is to extend all possible support to those affected and their families," the company said in a statement.

Television footage aired by Vietnamese media showed rough seas and strong winds as rescue teams threw life buoys to passengers in the water. Jet skis ferried survivors to shore, where bystanders administered first aid before they were shifted to hospitals, AP reported.

Witnesses quoted by Vietnamese news portal VN Express International said several passengers were trapped inside the overturned vessel, complicating rescue efforts.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has ordered an investigation into the accident and directed authorities to fix responsibility. According to AP, he also instructed officials to review waterway and maritime safety measures in the area and at other similar tourist destinations.

Rescue operations have concluded, with all 36 people on board accounted for. Vietnamese authorities are examining adverse weather, rough sea conditions, and possible mechanical failure as potential causes of the accident.

The Indian Embassy has released the names of the 32 Indian tourists onboard the capsized boat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the tragedy and said Indian diplomatic missions in Vietnam were extending all possible assistance.

"Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam. My sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. My prayers for the early recovery of the injured survivors. Our Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance," Modi said in a post on X.

The Kerala government on Saturday initiated efforts to gather details about two Keralites who were among those on board.

In a statement, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said Chief Minister VD Satheeshan had directed the Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) to contact the Vietnamese Embassy to obtain detailed information about the accident.

The CMO said it was also coordinating with the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Kerala House Resident Commissioner in New Delhi had been tasked with facilitating coordination.

The Andhra Pradesh government confirmed that three people from the state were among those killed, while two others were hospitalised.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed condolences and said the state government was coordinating with the Indian Embassy and Vietnamese authorities.

"We are coordinating with the Indian Embassy and the Vietnamese authorities, and all necessary assistance is being extended to the affected families. Further updates will be shared as more official information becomes available," Andhra Pradesh government sources said.

Naidu reviewed the situation and directed officials to ensure the safe return of survivors to Andhra Pradesh.

He also instructed officials at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to coordinate with Vietnamese authorities and the Indian Embassy, and asked officials to remain in close contact with the families of the deceased.

The three victims from Andhra Pradesh were identified as N. Adiseshaiah Ravi Teja from Sri Sathya Sai district, Mudiyam Sreedhar from Kadapa district, and Gelli Jaya Lakshmi from Krishna district.

Ravi Teja's brother said the 41-year-old had travelled to Vietnam on July 8 as part of a company-sponsored incentive trip for mobile phone distributors.

"We have been hearing that he died in the boat accident, but it is still hard to believe because we have not received any official confirmation," he said.

Family members of Sreedhar said he had travelled from Kadapa to Chennai before flying to Bangkok and then Vietnam.

"We received a call informing us about the accident, but we are still unable to believe it. We can accept it only after seeing his body," a family member said.

Relatives said the tour had been sponsored by a mobile phone company for its distributors and appealed to authorities to expedite the repatriation of the bodies.

Harihar Srinivas, a member of the larger Indian tour group, told news agency PTI that around 105 mobile phone distributors from South India had travelled to Vietnam on a business incentive trip.

According to him, eight people from Telangana were part of the overall delegation, but none was on the boat that capsized.

"As far as we know, around 70 members were hospitalised. We took them to the hospital, but we do not know what happened afterwards because we are still on the island," he said.

Srinivas said strong winds caused the boat to overturn and described it as a closed vessel, suggesting that passengers trapped inside had little chance of escaping.

Another survivor, Nirmal Kumar, told PTI Videos that the group was struck by a large wave.

"A big wave hit us, 20 people came out of it, and the balance members got stuck. It's a closed boat. Since we were on the front, we managed to survive. Others who were behind got stuck. The boat authorities maintained proper safety measures," he said.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island in the Gulf of Thailand, is one of the country's most popular tourist destinations, known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs, and island-hopping excursions.

According to AP, India has become one of Vietnam's fastest-growing tourism markets. The Southeast Asian nation received around 750,000 Indian visitors in 2025, nearly 50% more than the previous year, aided by an expanding network of direct flights and Vietnam's liberal e-visa policy.

Boating accidents are a regular occurrence in Vietnam, where extreme weather, persistent flooding, and inadequate maintenance have led to frequent tragedies.

In July last year, 39 people were killed when a tourist boat ferrying families around northern Vietnam's famed Ha Long Bay capsized after being lashed by a sudden storm.

(With inputs from AP and PTI)