12 July,2026 07:55 AM IST | Hanoi | Agencies
The island is one of the key destination for Indian tourist who head out to Vietnam for vacation. PIC/PTI
Fifteen people, including Indian tourists, are feared dead in a boat capsize incident near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, according to a local media report.
According to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International, the speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port when it capsized about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai, throwing everyone on board into the sea.
Citing initial information from authorities in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, the news portal said nearby tourist boats rushed to assist before border guards, the navy, the coast guard and other forces joined the search-and-rescue operation.
Fifteen Indians are feared dead. Three of them hail from Andhra Pradesh, say officials. PICS/PTI
A total of 15 people were killed, it said. Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said that it set up control rooms as search and rescue operations would continue.
But the Indian mission is yet to share details about the deaths. "In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam," the embassy said in a post on X.
It said control rooms have been established at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and at the Embassy in Hanoi to provide information and assistance.
Three people from Andhra Pradesh were killed and three others from the state were hospitalised in Vietnam following a tourist boat capsize near Phu Quoc Island, sources in the Andhra Pradesh government said.
The tourist speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized near Phu Quoc Island while returning to An Thoi Port, the sources further said.
The accident claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists, while 21 others were rescued. Of the survivors, 17 were passengers, and four were crew members. Two remained in critical condition, and all 36 persons on board have been accounted for.
"Preliminary information indicates that two persons from Machilipatnam are among the deceased. We are coordinating with the Indian Embassy and the Vietnamese authorities, and further details will be shared after official confirmation," Andhra Pradesh sources told media outlets.
Three other people from the state were hospitalised following the boat capsize, the sources added. The An Thoi Border Guard Station, the Navy, Coast Guard Region 4 and local boats launched a large-scale rescue operation. Life rafts and jet skis were deployed, they said.
The tour was organised by Vietnam-based Threeland Travel through local coordinating vendor Sai Vietnam, while the Indian tourist group was reportedly associated with a mobile company. Preliminary reports indicated that Jalalakshmi and Jayashree, both from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, were among the deceased. Verification of the identities of other affected Indian nationals was underway, the sources said.
The cause of the accident was under investigation, with rough sea conditions and possible mechanical failure suspected.According to VN Express, citing authorities in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, the speedboat, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was ferrying tourists from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port, around 25 kilometres from Phu Quoc Airport, when it overturned in the afternoon (local time), throwing all those on board into the sea.
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They are available for any assistance and queries, the Indian mission said.
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Indian tourists and four crew members were on board the speedboat
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