HYDERABAD/VIJAYAWADA: At least 15 Indian tourists were killed and 17 others injured after a speedboat carrying 32 Indian passengers and four crew capsized less than 500 metres off Vietnam’s Hon May Rut Ngoai island, close to the tourist destination of Phu Quoc, around 2. 30pm (1 pm IST) on Saturday.A large group of mobile phone dealers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana associated with Lava International was on board as part of a company-sponsored trip to Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island known for its white-sand beaches. They were returning from an island trip.According to the Indian embassy in Vietnam, three of the deceased were from Andhra Pradesh, 10 from Tamil Nadu and two from Kerala. Several of the injured are from Telangana. The survivors are undergoing treatment at hospitals near the accident site; four are critical.
“The boat had not even gone half a kilometre when it tipped over,” Ashish Kumar told Associated Press over phone. “We screamed, ‘Help! Help!'” He said nearby boats rushed to the rescue. “But by then it was too late.” He said there was no emergency medical care available at the shore when survivors were brought back.
Vietnam PM orders probe, safety review after tragedy
Hours after a speedboat with Indian tourists capsized near Phu Quoc Saturday, killing 15, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung ordered an investigation and directed authorities to hold those responsible accountable. He also asked officials to review waterway and maritime safety in the area where the accident happened, AP reported.VN Express news site quoted witnesses as saying that some people had been trapped inside the boat.The consul-general of India in Ho Chi Minh City has set up emergency control rooms and has been receiving frantic calls from distressed relatives. “Among those who contacted us was a man who said he had a friend on the boat, while another reported that his brother was among the victims. In another call, a person told us that his parents were also on the boat,” an official from the Indian consulate-general told TOI.In a statement posted on social media, Lava International confirmed that those on board were members of its dealer network. The company said it was deeply saddened by the loss of members of its dealer family. “Our immediate priority is to extend all possible support to those affected and their families. Our teams in both India and Vietnam are in regular contact with the families and are providing all possible assistance,” a company statement read.According to the Indian consul-general, the boat overturned about 400m from Hon May Rut Ngoai island while returning to An Thoi port. Rescue operations were launched immediately, with nearby vessels, border guards, the coast guard and other emergency agencies joining the effort despite rough seas and strong waves.“Adverse weather, rough sea conditions and possible mechanical failure are among the factors being examined. However, we cannot conclude anything with certainty and will let the investigation take its course,” the official said.Meanwhile, the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have directed their chief secretaries to coordinate with the ministry of external affairs and the Indian embassy in Vietnam to ensure all necessary assistance and relief measures for the affected families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also paid his condolences through his social media account on X.The Indian embassy said it is closely coordinating with the Vietnamese authorities and providing all possible assistance to the victims and their families. Vietnamese authorities have also ordered an investigation to determine why exactly the speedboat capsized.(Inputs from Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram)