Tour Boat Capsizes Near Phu Quoc, Killing 15 Indian Tourists

Overview

• A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew capsized about 400–500 meters off Hon May Rut Ngoai on Saturday, leaving 15 people dead and 21 others taken to hospital, some in critical condition.
• Survivors and television footage reported that the vessel encountered unusually strong winds and waves minutes after departure and that several passengers became trapped inside as it rolled over.
• Nearby tourist boats and the Vietnam Coast Guard carried out the rescue, pulling survivors from the water and recovering all 15 victims' bodies.
• Vietnam's prime minister has ordered a formal investigation and a review of navigation safety, and local officials say the boat and its operator held the required passenger permits.
• Many passengers were Indian nationals from Telangana and Tamil Nadu and some were on a company-organized trip, and authorities' findings could lead to tighter rules for maritime tours around Phu Quoc.