‘Heavy winds and high waves’: Vietnam boat tragedy kills 15 Indians – what we know so far
At least 15 Indian tourists were killed after a speedboat capsized off Vietnam’s southern island of Phu Quoc on Saturday, the local media reported. The vessel overturned while returning from Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port, roughly 25 km from Phu Quoc International Airport.Twenty-one people survived after the speedboat capsized at around 1 pm, according to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International, citing local authorities.
Boat carrying 36 people overturns
According to VnExpress, the speedboat was carrying 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists, three crew members and one attendant, when it capsized about 400 metres off May Rut Ngoai islet.Eyewitnesses told the media outlet that nearby boats rushed to the scene and began pulling passengers from the water before border guards, the navy, coast guard and other rescue agencies arrived.The rescue operation was complicated because several passengers were trapped inside the overturned vessel, while rough sea conditions and large waves hampered efforts.Vietnamese newspaper Tuoi Tre, citing local police, reported that 21 survivors were taken to hospital for emergency treatment, with two in critical condition. It added that all 15 of those killed were foreign nationals.
Accident during island tour
The speedboat was travelling from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port, about 25 km from Phu Quoc International Airport, when it capsized around 1 p.m., overturning about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai, according to Vietnamese authorities cited by VnExpress.
India activates emergency response
India’s embassy in Vietnam confirmed that the vessel was carrying Indian tourists and said officials were coordinating with Vietnamese authorities.“Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing,” the embassy said in a statement, describing the accident as “tragic”.The embassy said it had established emergency response centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to assist the victims and their families. Additionally names of all the victims have been released.
Rough seas under investigation
Nguyen Tien Hai, a provincial official of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party, said authorities were continuing to verify the exact number of survivors, according to Vietnamese state media.Hai said initial assessments suggested the speedboat may have overturned because of heavy winds and high waves.VnExpress also reported that sea conditions were rough at the time of the accident, with large waves in the area.
Popular tourist hotspot
According to a representative of Ocean Pear Island Company, quoted by VNExpress, the speedboat was carrying tourists on an island-hopping trip, while the captain, in his 50s, had years of experience operating passenger vessels.The boat was travelling near May Rut Islet, a popular snorkelling and diving destination around 10-12 km south of An Thoi. Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, welcomed 5.7 million visitors in the first six months of 2026, including 1.32 million foreign tourists.Boating accidents are not uncommon in Vietnam, where severe weather, flooding and safety concerns have contributed to several maritime disasters. In July last year, 39 people were killed after a tourist boat capsized during a sudden storm in Ha Long Bay.
