A devastating boat accident occurred off the coast of Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam on Saturday, resulting in the loss of 15 Indian tourists’ lives. The speedboat, carrying a total of 32 Indians, including crew members, capsized approximately 440 yards off Hon May Rut Ngoai, an island in the An Thoi archipelago.
According to reports, 13 men and 2 women were among the fatalities. The survivors were found trapped inside the boat, and several nearby tourist boats quickly came to their rescue. The incident occurred around 1:30 p.m. local time, when the boat had barely left the island.
Ashish Kumar, a 48-year-old Indian national from Guntur, described the moment the boat capsized. ‘We were taking pictures, and it happened before we could react,’ he said. ‘The boat had hardly left the island. We were all screaming for help.’
Rescue Efforts Underway
The rescue efforts were led by local authorities, with several tourist boats in the area providing assistance. Nguyen Tien Hai, a senior official in the area, stated that the speedboat may have capsized due to heavy winds and high waves. ‘The top priority is rescue, bringing all victims ashore and focusing all efforts on providing emergency care to those who are still alive,’ Hai said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to the families of the victims on social media. ‘Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam. My sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. My prayers for the early recovery of the injured survivors,’ Modi posted.
The Indian Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam are providing assistance to the affected families, and officials are in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities. Lava Mobiles, the company that organized the trip for its mobile sales staff, released a statement expressing their condolences and offering support to the affected families.
Statement from Lava Mobiles
‘We at Lava are deeply saddened to confirm that 14 of our channel partners and one member of our Lava team have tragically lost their lives in a boat accident earlier today near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam. Our hearts and prayers are with their families and loved ones. This is an unimaginable tragedy, and we stand with them during this time of profound grief,’ the company stated.
Lava Mobiles is working closely with the Indian Embassy and Consulate in Vietnam to facilitate the repatriation of the mortal remains and provide assistance to the affected families. The company’s teams in both India and Vietnam are supporting the families and extending every possible assistance during this difficult time.
