HANOI, Vietnam — The remains of 15 Indian tourists who lost their lives in a deadly speedboat accident off the coast of southern Vietnam last week were transported back to India on Monday.
The vessel, which was carrying 32 Indian tourists along with four Vietnamese crew members, capsized near the shore on Saturday afternoon shortly after departing from Hon May Rut Ngoai island, located near Phu Quoc — Vietnam’s largest island — according to authorities.
The boat’s captain, Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, is now under investigation on suspicion of violating waterway transportation safety regulations, according to state media reports.
A flight carrying the victims’ remains departed from Ho Chi Minh City and was expected to arrive in Mumbai late Monday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi announced via social media. The embassy indicated that home state authorities were asked to help coordinate further transportation for the families. Among those killed, ten were from Tamil Nadu state, three were from Andhra Pradesh, and two were from Kerala.
The tourists were part of a company-sponsored trip organized by Lava International, a manufacturer of smartphones and consumer electronics, for its employees, distributors, and retail partners, according to a statement from the company.
The Indian Embassy had previously reported that 16 survivors were discharged from the hospital and had begun making their way back to India, while one person remained hospitalized in critical condition in Vietnam.
Hon May Rut island sits roughly 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, south of Phu Quoc, a well-known beach destination that draws millions of visitors from both within Vietnam and abroad each year. Both locations are celebrated for their white sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.
India has become one of the fastest-growing sources of tourism for Vietnam in recent years.
