15 Indians killed in Vietnam boat mishap

Extremely saddened by the accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured — Prime Minister Narendra Modi

At least 15 Indian tourists died after a speedboat carrying 32 Indian passengers and four Vietnamese crew members capsized in rough seas off Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam on Saturday afternoon.

The vessel, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was ferrying tourists from Hon May Rut islet to An Thoi Port when it overturned around 1 pm local time, approximately 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai. All 36 people on board were thrown into the sea.

Nearby tourist boats rushed to the scene within minutes of the incident. Rescue workers and boat operators reported that many passengers were trapped inside the overturned vessel, complicating efforts. “Only a few people were brought out conscious,” one rescuer told the local media.

The Indian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed the casualty figure and said search and rescue operations were still underway. It immediately set up control rooms in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to assist affected families.

In a statement posted on X, the embassy said, “In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago. Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.”

Contact numbers were issued for families seeking information: Ho Chi Minh City (Consulate General of India): +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14, +84 33 452 0414 Hanoi: +84 91 308 9165

Later, the embassy released the names of all 32 Indian passengers based on official information and said it was verifying further details regarding the casualties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep grief over the tragedy. In a post on X, he said he was “extremely saddened” by the accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Prime Minister added that the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam were extending all possible assistance and maintaining close coordination with Vietnamese authorities.

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh also took note of the incident after reports indicated that several tourists from the state might have been on board. He directed senior officials to coordinate with the Centre and the Indian Embassy to provide every possible support to the victims and their families.

Authorities noted that sea conditions off An Thoi were rough at the time of the incident, though there was no rainfall. The boat was on an island-hopping tour to May Rut Islet, a popular destination known for its clear waters, beaches and coral reefs, about 10-12 km south of An Thoi. The captain, a man in his 50s, reportedly had several years of experience.

The incident comes almost exactly one year after a major boating disaster in Vietnam. In July 2025, a tourist boat carrying 48 people, including at least 20 children, capsized in Ha Long Bay during a sudden storm, killing at least 35 passengers. That tragedy had raised serious questions about maritime safety standards at Vietnam’s popular tourist spots.

The Indian Embassy said it would continue to update information as more details emerge from the ongoing rescue and investigation.

QUICK HELP

• The Indian Embassy said it would continue to update information as more details emerge from the ongoing rescue and investigation
• Contact numbers were issued for families seeking information: Ho Chi Minh City (Consulate General of India): +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14, +84 33 452 0414 Hanoi: +84 91 308 9165