At least 15 Indian tourists lost their lives after a boat overturned in waters off Phu Quoc, a popular island destination in southern Vietnam, on Saturday, according to VnExpress, which cited local authorities.
The vessel had 36 people on board at the time of the accident — 32 Indian tourists, three crew members, and one attendant. Of those aboard, 21 people survived.
The boat was making its way from Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port when it capsized approximately 400 meters — roughly 440 yards — from shore. Authorities noted that sea conditions were dangerous at the time, with large waves in the area.
India’s embassy in Vietnam confirmed it is closely following the situation and has opened emergency response centers in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to provide support to the families of those involved.
In a statement, the embassy described the event as “tragic” and noted that “exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.”
Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island and has grown into one of the nation’s top tourist destinations, drawing a significant number of visitors from India in recent years.
