A speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized just under half a kilometer from the shore off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island, killing 15 people. The vessel had departed from Hon Me Island — part of the Rut Ngoai archipelago near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island — when it overturned.
Witness Describes Chaos and Delayed Response
Asish Kumar, an Indian national who witnessed the incident, told the Associated Press by phone: “The boat hadn’t even traveled half a kilometer when it simply capsized.” He recalled passengers shouting “Help! Help!” as the vessel went down. Nearby boats rushed to assist, but, he added, “by then it was already too late.”
Kumar also noted that no emergency medical care was available on the beach when survivors were brought ashore.
Rescue Efforts and Conditions at Sea
Vietnamese state television footage showed rough seas and strong winds during the incident. Rescue teams deployed life rafts and flotation devices to people struggling in the water. Jet skis ferried survivors back to land, where bystanders administered first aid on the beach.
According to Vietnamese authorities, 21 people were rescued, and all bodies have been recovered. Injured survivors were taken to hospitals for treatment.
Indian Prime Minister Offers Condolences
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the tragedy.