TOURIST BOAT CAPSIZES OFF VIETNAM'S PHU QUOC, KILLING 15

A tourist speedboat carrying Indian visitors capsized off Vietnam's Phu Quoc island on Saturday, killing 15 people and prompting a rescue and investigation effort near one of the country's most popular island destinations.

Reuters reported that the boat was carrying 36 people: 32 Indian tourists, three crew members and one attendant. The Associated Press also reported 36 people aboard, describing the vessel as carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members. Authorities said 21 people survived.

The accident happened near Hon May Rut Island, off Phu Quoc in southern Vietnam. Reuters reported that the boat capsized about 400 metres from shore near An Thoi Port while travelling from Hon May Rut Island. The Associated Press reported that the speedboat capsized shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, about half a kilometre from shore.

The victims were reported to be Indian tourists. Reuters said all 15 people killed were Indian nationals, and the Associated Press reported the same death toll.

Rough seas, strong winds and large waves were reported around the time of the incident. Reuters said rough sea conditions and large waves were reported when the vessel capsized, while the Associated Press reported that rough seas and strong winds complicated the response.

The vessel was on a tourist route connected to Phu Quoc's island-hopping area, a major draw for visitors to southern Vietnam. Hon May Rut and nearby islands are commonly visited by tour boats for beach, swimming and sightseeing trips.

Nearby boats helped rescue survivors after the vessel overturned, according to the Associated Press. The agency said 21 people were rescued, and that the bodies of those killed had been recovered.

Reuters reported that India's embassy in Vietnam established emergency response centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi after the accident. The embassy said it was assisting affected families and working with Vietnamese authorities.

The Associated Press reported that Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh ordered an investigation into the accident and called for a review of maritime safety procedures. That review will likely focus on operating conditions, weather warnings, passenger safety and whether the boat should have been on the water at the time.

The immediate cause of the capsize has not been officially determined. Weather and sea conditions were reported as factors at the time, but investigators will need to determine whether any safety, operational or regulatory failures contributed to the disaster.

The accident raises questions about tourist-boat operations in high-demand coastal destinations, especially during poor weather. Phu Quoc is one of Vietnam's best-known resort islands and has seen growing international tourism, including from India.

The Associated Press reported that many of the tourists were from the Indian states of Telangana and Tamil Nadu. The agency also reported that several victims were employees or associates of Lava International, an Indian electronics manufacturer.

The incident comes during a period of expanding India-Vietnam travel. The Associated Press reported that Vietnam received about 750,000 Indian visitors in 2025, helped by relaxed visa policies and direct flights.

That growth has made Indian tourists an increasingly visible part of Vietnam's tourism market. It also means accidents involving Indian visitors can quickly become diplomatic and consular incidents, requiring coordination between local authorities, embassies, hospitals, tour operators and families abroad.

The Indian Embassy's response centres are intended to support that coordination. In accidents involving foreign tourists, families often need help confirming identities, arranging travel, receiving medical updates and navigating local authorities after a sudden death overseas.

For Vietnamese authorities, the investigation will likely carry both safety and reputational importance. Phu Quoc depends heavily on tourism, and maritime safety is central to visitor confidence in island-hopping, beach and boat-tour operations.

The reported location of the capsize, only several hundred metres from shore, also underscores how quickly a routine tourist transfer can become deadly when a small vessel overturns. Even when land is visible, passengers can become trapped, disoriented or unable to escape if the boat flips suddenly.

The Associated Press reported that emergency medical help was not immediately available onshore, according to witness accounts. That detail, if confirmed by investigators, could become part of a wider review of rescue readiness around popular boat-tour routes.

Officials have not yet released a full public account of the boat's safety equipment, its inspection status, the operator's decision-making or the sequence of events before the capsize. Those details will be important in determining whether the accident was caused only by sudden weather conditions or whether preventable failures were involved.

For now, the confirmed public picture is limited but serious: a speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized near Phu Quoc, 15 people were killed, 21 survived, and Vietnamese and Indian authorities are coordinating the response.

Investigators are continuing to review what happened, consular officials are assisting families, and Vietnamese authorities are assessing whether changes are needed to tourist-boat safety rules or enforcement.

Fact-check date: July 11, 2026

Article type: News

Sources: Reuters; Associated Press; Indian Embassy in Vietnam, as reported by Reuters; Vietnamese authorities, as reported by the Associated Press.