A holiday turned into tragedy off the coast of Vietnam on Saturday, July 11, after a speedboat carrying dozens of Indian tourists capsized near the popular resort destination of Phu Quoc Island, leaving as many as 15 people feared dead.
What Happened
According to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International, the boat was carrying 32 Indian tourists along with four crew members, travelling from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port, when it capsized roughly 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai. Everyone on board was thrown into the sea.
Nearby tourist boats were the first to respond, rushing to pull survivors from the water even before official rescue teams arrived. Vietnam’s border guards, navy, coast guard and other emergency forces soon joined a coordinated search-and-rescue effort that continued through the day.
By Saturday evening, local authorities confirmed 15 fatalities, though the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said it was still working to verify full details of the casualties.
Who Was On Board
The passenger list reflected just how far-reaching the tragedy is for families across South India. Of the 32 Indian tourists aboard, five were from Andhra Pradesh and 17 from Tamil Nadu, with additional passengers from Telangana, according to state government sources.
The Andhra Pradesh government told news agency PTI that two people from the state had died in the incident, with three others from Andhra Pradesh currently hospitalised.
India Responds: Control Rooms Activated
Within hours of the news breaking, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi confirmed it had activated emergency control rooms to assist affected families and coordinate with Vietnamese authorities.
“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, adding that exact details were still being ascertained as search and rescue operations continued.
Two dedicated helplines have been set up:
- Consulate General of India, Ho Chi Minh City: +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14, +84 33 452 0414
- Embassy of India, Hanoi: +84 91 308 9165
Back home, state governments moved quickly as well. Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh directed officials at AP Bhavan to coordinate closely with the central government and extend all possible assistance to affected families.
The Telangana government’s General Administration (NRI) Department also set up its own control room to support families of those affected, with the following numbers active for inquiries: 9885371189, 7997959754, 9989654807, and 7997959779.
What Comes Next
Search and rescue operations remain ongoing as authorities in Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone work to account for everyone who was on board. Indian officials have indicated that further updates on the identities and condition of victims will be released as information is confirmed.
