In brief
A speedboat that carried 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized 400 metres from Hon May Rut Ngoai island in Vietnam’s Gulf of Thailand, claiming 15 lives. Rough sea conditions and strong winds likely triggered the accident. Rescue vessels quickly reached the scene, saving 21 passengers. Vietnamese authorities are still confirming the death toll while providing emergency care to the injured. The Indian embassy has set up a hotline to assist affected families.
During a routine island‑hopping tour near the pristine island of Hon May Rut Ngoai, a speedboat carrying 32 Indian nationals and four crew members overturned about 400 metres from the shore. Rough sea conditions and powerful winds are believed to have caused the accident, a claim supported by local officials.
Local authorities confirmed that 15 passengers lost their lives and that 21 survivors were rescued by nearby vessels. The accident took place roughly 10 kilometres south of Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, a popular destination for tourists exploring the Gulf of Thailand.
Vietnamese officials described the top priority as rescuing all victims and providing emergency care to the injured. Senior Communist official Nguyen Tien Hai stated that rescue crews were actively working to bring survivors ashore and to offer medical support.
The Indian embassy in Vietnam expressed its gratitude for emergency response efforts and described the incident as tragic. The embassy released a full list of the 32 Indian nationals on board and set up telephone hotlines to provide information and assistance to affected families.
The incident underlines the importance of stringent safety checks for tourist vessels, especially in regions prone to sudden changes in weather and sea state.
