A devastating maritime accident off the coast of Vietnam’s popular southern resort island of Phu Quoc has left at least 15 Indian tourists dead after a tourist vessel overturned in rough sea conditions on Saturday, Vietnamese online newspaper VnExpress has reported, citing official confirmation from local Vietnamese authorities.
Of the 36 people on board the vessel when it capsized, 21 people managed to survive the incident. The passenger manifest confirms the boat was carrying 32 Indian tourists, three local crew members, and one on-board attendant, according to the report.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Embassy of India in Vietnam announced it has activated a full emergency response protocol, dispatching support teams and setting up dedicated emergency assistance centers in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to coordinate with Vietnamese authorities and provide support to family members of those affected by the incident.
In an official statement released shortly after the accident, the Indian Embassy noted that precise details surrounding the sequence of events are still being confirmed, as search and rescue operations led by local Vietnamese authorities remain ongoing. The embassy characterized the incident as a profound tragedy.
Local authorities outline that the boat was en route from the smaller Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port when it overturned approximately 400 meters, or 440 yards, off the shore in open waters. VnExpress’s reporting adds that weather conditions in the area at the time of the accident were hazardous, with rough seas and large waves buffeting small vessels in the region.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, has emerged as one of the Southeast Asian nation’s top tourist draws over the past decade, with a sharp rise in international visitor numbers — including a growing stream of tourists from India — in recent years.