Speedboat Disaster off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island Claims 15 Lives

A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized on Saturday near the tiny island of Hon May Rut Ngoai, killing 15 and leaving 21 survivors.

The boat overturned 400 metres from the island amid rough seas and high winds, officials say. Rescue vessels from the area rushed to the scene and managed to extract most passengers from the wreckage.

Senior Communist official Nguyen Tien Hai said authorities were still confirming casualty figures but underscored that rescue operations were the top priority. “We are bringing all victims ashore and providing emergency care to those still alive,” he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X that he was “extremely saddened” by the news, offering condolences to families and praying for the recovery of the injured.

The Indian embassy in Vietnam published a list of the 32 nationals aboard and set up a telephone hotline to support affected families.

The incident shines a harsh light on safety in island‑hopping tours across Southeast Asia and has spurred calls for stricter maritime regulations for tourist vessels.