15 Indian tourists dead after speedboat capsizes off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island

A tourist speedboat carrying 32 Indian visitors capsized off Phu Quoc Island, a top tourism destination in southern Vietnam, on Saturday, killing 15 people.

Twenty one others were rescued, according to local authorities.

The speedboat, operated by Ocean Pearl Island Co., departed Hon May Rut for An Thoi Port at around 1 p.m. local time, carrying 32 Indian tourists, three crew members and a tour guide.

The sea was rough at the time of the accident despite dry weather; other tourist boats were operating in the area.

The vessel capsized about 400 meters after leaving Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, throwing everyone on board into the sea.

Nearby tourist boats rushed to the scene after spotting the accident. One rescue boat operator told tocal media that it took about five minutes to reach the site but many passengers were trapped inside the overturned cabin, making rescue efforts difficult.

Only some of those brought out were still conscious, the operator said.

By late Saturday, all victims had been brought ashore. According to the An Thoi Port Border Guard Station, 21 people survived while 15 died, including two women and 13 men. Survivors were taken to medical facilities for treatment.

Nguyen Tien Hai, Party chief of An Giang provnce, said the tour operator and the vessel were properly licensed and met regulatory requirements for passenger transport. Preliminary assessments suggested the speedboat encountered unusually strong waves and winds while at sea, leading to the accident.

Authorities are carrying out forensic procedures for the deaths and coordinating with relevant agencies on consular assistance. Officials have also contacted Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City to receive the bodies after legal procedures are completed to facilitate identification and repatriation.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation.