Fifteen people, including eight tourists from Tamil Nadu, were killed after a tourist boat carrying Indian visitors capsized off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, turning what was meant to be a reward trip into a major tragedy.

According to preliminary reports, the boat was carrying around 32 Indian tourists, including 17 from Tamil Nadu and others from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala when the accident occurred in waters south of Phu Quoc, a popular tourist destination in southern Vietnam.

The vessel reportedly overturned during the morning while cruising near the island.

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially disclosed, and local authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

(IANS)

The Telangana government on Saturday set up a control room to facilitate coordination and to provide information to the families of the tourists from the state who went to Vietnam, after 15 Indians were killed in a boat accident in the Southeast Asian country, officials said.

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy expressed deep shock over reports about the deaths of some tourists from the Telugu states in the boat accident in Vietnam.

The chief minister directed the chief secretary to contact the Ministry of External Affairs and officials at the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to collect details about the accident, intensify relief operations, and take necessary measures, the Telangana CMO said in a post on 'X'.

వియత్నాం పర్యటనకు వెళ్లిన తెలుగు రాష్ట్రాలకు చెందిన కొందరు పర్యాటకులు అక్కడ బోటు ప్రమాదంలో మరణించారనే సమాచారంపై ముఖ్యమంత్రి శ్రీ @revanth_anumula గారు తీవ్ర దిగ్భ్రాంతిని వ్యక్తం చేశారు. వియత్నాంలోని ఫూ క్వాక్ ద్వీపంలో పర్యటనకు వెళ్లిన భారతీయులు బోటు ప్రమాదంలో మరణించారన్న… pic.twitter.com/htZEO6Vwqb

— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) July 11, 2026

At approximately 11:30am IST on Saturday, a speedboat operated by Ocean Pearl Island and captained by Nguyen Hong Hai was travelling from Hon May Rut Ngoai to An Thoi International Port, carrying about 32 Indian passengers, three crew members, and one Vietnamese tour guide.

400 metres after departing, the boat overturned due to rough seas and strong winds, resulting in 15 fatalities and the rescue of 21 people.

Among the 21 survivors of the speedboat capsizing incident at sea, four are in stable health and have been discharged from the hospital, 15 are undergoing treatment, and two remain in critical condition, according to the People's Committee of the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone (An Giang Province). 

Eyewitnesses told VN Express that nearby boats rushed to the scene and began pulling passengers from the water, before border guards, the navy, coast guard and other rescue agencies arrived. The rescue was difficult because many were trapped inside, VN Express reported.

Twenty-one people were rescued, and all the dead were recovered, authorities said. The injured were taken to hospitals.

Footage on Vietnamese TV showed rough seas and strong winds as rescue teams threw life buoys to people in the water. Jet skis ferried survivors back to shore while people on the beach provided first aid to victims.

(AP)

Vietnamese authorities suspect a sudden mechanical malfunction and rough sea conditions caused a tourist speedboat to overturn near Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 15 Indian tourists.

"I am deeply pained and saddened to learn of the accident involving a boat carrying Indian tourists-including those from Tamil Nadu and other states-near Hon May Rut Ngoai Island in the An Thoi sea area of  Vietnam, which resulted in the loss of lives.

I have ordered Tamil Nadu government officials to coordinate with the Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs, and senior officials at the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to gather details about the affected individuals from Tamil Nadu and to carry out rescue operations and provide all necessary assistance", Tamil Nadu CM, C Joseph Vijay wrote on X.

வியட்நாம் நாட்டின் ஆன் தோய் கடல் பகுதியிலுள்ள ஹான் மே ருட் ங்வோய் (Hon May Rut Ngoai) தீவிற்கு சுற்றுலா சென்ற இந்தியர்கள் பயணித்த படகு இன்று காலை விபத்தில் சிக்கியதில் தமிழ்நாடு மற்றும் பிற மாநிலங்களைச் சேர்ந்த சுற்றுலாப் பயணிகள் உயிரிழந்த செய்தி அறிந்து மிகுந்த மனவேதனையும்,…

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) July 11, 2026

At least 15 Indian tourists were killed after a speedboat overturned near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island today. It was carrying 32 tourists and four crew from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port when it sank. The Indian embassy has shared more information.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi urged the government and the Ministry of External Affairs "to work closely with the Vietnamese authorities to ensure that every possible effort is made in the ongoing rescue operations and that all necessary assistance is extended to the affected families."

"My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. My thoughts are also with those who are still missing, and with their families enduring an agonising wait," he said in a statement on X.

Deeply saddened by the tragic boat capsizing near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, carrying Indian tourists.
My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones. My thoughts are also with those who are still missing, and with their families enduring an agonising…

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 11, 2026

In a post on X, Lava Mobiles said some of their team members and channel partners were involved in the incident.

"We are in constant touch with the Embassy of India in Vietnam and the local authorities to gather information about the safety and well-being of our people. Our immediate priority is to extend all possible support to those affected and their families. Our teams in both India and Vietnam are in regular contact with the families and are providing all possible assistance," the company said in a statement.

A total of 110 Lava Distributors and Employees from South India were on a visit together, sources said.

The exact details of the incident are still unknown, and the local authorities are conducting search and rescue operations, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam stated.

"In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago. Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing," the Embassy of India in Hanoi wrote on X.

In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago.
Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.
In order to provide information…

— India in Vietnam (@AmbHanoi) July 11, 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grief over the loss of lives, including that of Indian tourists, in the boat capsize incident near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island, extending his sincere condolences to the bereaved families.

In a post on X, the prime minister said he was "extremely saddened" by the tragic accident and assured that the Indian Embassy and Consulate were providing all possible assistance to those affected.

"Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam. My sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. My prayers for the early recovery of the injured survivors. Our Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities," PM Modi posted on X.

Search and rescue operations are underway, and the Indian mission has set up control rooms to assist those affected.