15 Indian tourists dead as speedboat capsizes off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island
At least 15 Indian nationals were killed when a speedboat capsized off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, according to Vietnamese authorities. The boat was carrying 36 people when it overturned approximately 400 metres off May Rut Ngoai Islet.
Among the deceased, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed. The embassy released the names of 32 Indian nationals who were on the boat, along with a separate list of the deceased.
Survivor Nirmal Kumar, a passenger from Tamil Nadu, recounted the incident. “About 20 of us managed to escape from the boat, while the others drowned. I really don’t know how we survived,” he said. Kumar and other passengers were distributors and sales partners associated with Indian mobile phone manufacturer Lava. They had travelled to Vietnam as part of an incentive trip after achieving sales targets, leaving India on July 8.
The accident occurred as the group was travelling from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port for lunch. “We were all excited when we started, but suddenly the boat encountered a giant wave and capsized in no time,” Kumar said. He described the wave striking the boat and turning it upside down in seconds.
Rescue operations began swiftly as nearby tourist boats rushed to assist. However, several passengers were trapped inside the capsized boat, complicating efforts. Kumar noted that all passengers had been wearing life jackets and had followed safety instructions. Vietnamese police have recorded his statement.
Regarding the cause, Kumar said the exact reason remains unknown, but the number of passengers and rough seas may have contributed. “The number of people could have been one reason, but we really don’t know what happened. The boat operators told us at the beginning that the ride would be safe,” he added.
Among the victims was Kumar's friend and colleague Murugaprabhu, also from Palani in Tamil Nadu. “I lost my friend and colleague, Murugaprabhu. All I remember is the wave hitting our boat,” Kumar said. Other passengers from Tamil Nadu were from Chennai, Dharmapuri and Salem.
A couple from Kerala's Kollam district — 57-year-old A C Thomas and his wife Loveny Thomas, 56 — were also among the deceased. Thomas was the managing director of a pharmaceutical distribution firm and the South Kerala distributor for Lava mobiles. The couple is survived by their son and daughter.
The Indian Embassy is in constant touch with families and is working to transport the victims' bodies to India at the earliest. The state governments of Tamil Nadu and Kerala have also extended assistance to the affected families.
