15 Indian Tourists Killed When Speedboat Capsizes Off Vietnam Island

A speedboat carrying 32 Indian nationals and four crew members overturned near Hon May Rut Ngoai island, part of Vietnam’s An Thoi Archipelago, in rough seas on Saturday. Authorities say the vessel was roughly 400 metres from the island when it capsized, and 15 people—most of them Indian tourists—lost their lives. A total of 21 passengers were rescued and taken to medical facilities for emergency care.

The accident took place in the Gulf of Thailand, about 10 kilometres south of Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island. Nguyen Tien Hai, a senior Communist official in the region, stated that rescue teams were prioritizing bringing survivors ashore and providing emergency treatment, while confirming the death toll.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his “sorrow” at the tragic news, posting a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter) to offer condolences and prayers for those injured.

The Indian Embassy in Hanoi released a full list of the 32 nationals on board and set up a telephone hotline to aid families with information and support.

Rescue operations involved several nearby tourist vessels that responded promptly, finding many passengers trapped inside the overturned boat. Vietnamese emergency crews were on standby to assist in medical care and safe evacuation.

Images from the scene captured ambulances lined up on a pier and a photo of the capsized boat in the water. The video footage from the incident shows the boat’s overturn in turbulent waters.