Vietnam: A boating excursion involving Indian tourists turned tragic on Saturday after a speedboat capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation. While local media reports have claimed that 15 people are feared dead, Indian authorities have said there is no official confirmation of the death toll so far.
In a statement posted on X, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi confirmed that a boat carrying several Indian tourists had overturned near Phu Quoc Island. The embassy said it was closely coordinating with Vietnamese authorities to gather verified information about the incident.
According to initial reports, the vessel was carrying 32 Indian tourists along with four crew members when the accident occurred. Vietnamese newspaper VnExpress reported that the speedboat was travelling from Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port when it capsized approximately 400 metres from the shoreline. The area was reportedly experiencing rough sea conditions at the time.
The Indian Embassy said the exact circumstances surrounding the incident are still being determined by local authorities. It also announced the establishment of dedicated control rooms at the Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City to assist affected families and provide updates.
Rescue teams have been deployed to the area and operations are continuing to locate those who remain unaccounted for. Officials have not yet released a final list of casualties or survivors, and the embassy has urged people to rely on verified information as the situation continues to unfold.
The incident has triggered concern among the families of those on board, while Indian diplomatic officials remain in constant touch with Vietnamese authorities to monitor the rescue efforts and extend all possible assistance to the affected tourists.
