A speedboat capsized while serving tourists at an island in Vietnam, resulting in 15 deaths, including Indian tourists who were the majority of the passengers on this boat.
Vietnamese local media reported on 11 Jul 2026 that a speedboat carrying Indian tourists sank near an island in southern Vietnam, causing 15 fatalities, while others were safely rescued.
Reports state that 32 Indians and 4 crew members were on the boat, which capsized about 400 meters from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island amid rough sea conditions with strong winds last Saturday.
Vietnam's VnExpress news agency reported that several nearby tourist boats rushed to help immediately and found many passengers trapped inside the vessel. Some reports indicate all the deceased were Indian nationals, while 21 survivors were rescued.
Hon May Rut Ngoai is a small island in the An Thoi archipelago at the easternmost part of the Gulf of Thailand. It lies about 10 kilometers south of Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, attracting many tourists for island-hopping boat tours.
Nguyen Thien Hai, a senior local Communist Party official, said the speedboat likely sank due to strong gusts and high waves. Authorities are still working to confirm the exact number of dead and survivors.
“The top priority is rescue operations, bringing all victims ashore, and focusing all efforts on emergency first aid for those still alive,” Mr. Hai said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow upon learning of the tragic boat accident in Vietnam involving Indian citizens.
“I extend my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones and send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured survivors,” Modi posted on the platform X.
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam described the incident as a “great loss,” released the full list of 32 Indian nationals aboard the sunken boat, and established a hotline to provide information and support to affected families.
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Source:bbc