Fifteen Indian tourists died on Saturday when their speedboat capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island. The vessel was carrying 36 people, including 32 Indians and four crew members, when it overturned in rough seas barely minutes into its journey. This vietnam boat accident has left families across three Indian states in mourning.
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What Happened Near Phu Quoc Island, in Vietnam?
The boat left Hon May Rut Ngoai Islet around 1 pm local time, heading back to An Thoi Port. It had gone less than half a kilometre when strong winds and choppy waters flipped it over. Several passengers got trapped inside the overturned hull. Nearby boats rushed to help, along with the An Thoi Border Guard Station, Navy units and Coast Guard Region 4 teams.
Rescuers deployed life rafts and jet skis to pull people out. Of the 36 on board, 21 survived. That includes 17 passengers and four crew members. Two survivors remain in critical condition. All 36 people on the boat have now been accounted for, either among the dead or the rescued.
An eyewitness named Ashish Kumar described the chaos to news agencies. He said the boat tipped over suddenly and everyone started screaming for help. He added that nearby boats reacted quickly, but for some it was already too late.
Who Were The Victims?
Fifteen Indians lost their lives in this vietnam boat accident. Ten were from Tamil Nadu. Three came from Andhra Pradesh, and two were from Kerala’s Kottarakkara in Kollam district.
The Kerala victims were identified as businessman A.C. Thomas, aged 57, and his wife Loveni Thomas, 56. Thomas ran the Victory Group of Industries. The couple had reportedly reached Vietnam just three days before the accident for a holiday.
From Andhra Pradesh, officials confirmed the deaths of Gelli Jayalakshmi from Machilipatnam and Mudium Sridhar from Kadapa. A Special Commissioner at AP Bhavan in New Delhi, Arja Srikanth, said the deceased included 13 men and two women overall. Three more people from Andhra Pradesh were hospitalised and are being treated in Vietnam.
Many of the tourists were reportedly linked to Lava International, a smartphone maker. The company confirmed some of its employees and channel partners were part of the group. In a statement, Lava said its immediate priority was extending support to those affected and their families.
Vietnam Boat Accident: Govt. Response & Official Statements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reacted to the tragedy on social media. He wrote that he was extremely saddened by the news of the boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc. He said the Indian Embassy and Consulate were providing all possible assistance to those affected.
Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar also posted his condolences. He called the loss of lives in the vietnam boat accident heartbreaking and said Indian missions were staying in constant touch with local authorities to manage the situation.
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy directed officials to coordinate closely with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam. He instructed his chief secretary to speed up relief measures once reports emerged that Telugu tourists were among the dead. The Telangana government also set up a control room to help affected families and share updates.
In Kerala, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan asked NORKA CEO Ajith Kolassery to get in touch with the Vietnamese Embassy for detailed information on victims and survivors. The Resident Commissioner of Kerala House, Puneet Kumar, has been tasked with coordinating follow-up action from Delhi.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also wrote on social media, urging Indian authorities to help the victims and requesting that bodies be brought home as quickly as possible.
How Repatriation Efforts Are Proceeding?
The Embassy of India in Vietnam has opened control rooms in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. These offices are working with Vietnamese authorities to arrange the return of the bodies to India. An official told reporters that every effort was being made, in coordination with the central government, to bring the deceased back home soon.
Verification of all victims’ identities was still underway at the time of this report. Officials said final confirmation would follow once documentation and family contact were complete.
Why did this Vietnam Boat Accident Happened?
Vietnamese authorities have launched a formal probe into the accident. Preliminary findings point to rough sea conditions and possibly a mechanical fault as contributing factors. Sea conditions near An Thoi were reportedly choppy that day, though there was no rain. That likely explains why tour boats kept running despite the rough waters.
The boat belonged to a company called Ocean Pearl Island. The tour itself was arranged by Vietnam based Threeland Travel, working through a local vendor named Sai Vietnam. Vietnam’s Prime Minister has ordered an investigation and asked officials to hold those responsible accountable. He has also called for a review of waterway and maritime safety rules in the region where the accident took place.
Phu Quoc is one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations and draws thousands of Indian tourists every year, thanks to direct flight connections and visa-friendly policies.
A Pattern Of Boating Accidents In Vietnam
This is not the first major boating tragedy in Vietnam in recent times. Almost a year ago, in July 2025, a tourist boat capsized in Ha Long Bay during a sudden storm. That accident killed 35 people, including at least 20 children, and had also triggered questions about maritime safety standards in the country.
The fresh Vietnam boat accident is likely to renew scrutiny of safety protocols for tourist boats operating near popular island destinations. Authorities in Vietnam have said they will review checks on vessel capacity, weather monitoring, and rescue readiness at busy tourist ports like An Thoi.
For now, families in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala are waiting for the bodies of their loved ones to be brought home, as Indian and Vietnamese officials continue to work together on the ground.