Speedboat Capsizes Near Phu Quoc Island, 15 Indian Tourists Dead
A speedboat capsized near Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam on July 11, killing 15 Indian tourists despite immediate rescue efforts hampered by rough seas and overcrowding.
A speedboat capsized near Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam on July 11, killing 15 Indian tourists, according to Vietnamese news agency VnExpress.
The speedboat operated by Ocean Pear Island Company was carrying 32 Indian tourists and 4 crew members traveling from Hon May Rut island to An Thoi port when it overturned approximately 400 meters from Hon May Rut Ngoai island, causing all passengers to fall into the water.
Nearby tour boats immediately rushed to assist. One boat owner involved in the rescue said his vessel reached the scene within 5 minutes, but rescue efforts were hampered by the large number of tourists trapped in the capsized boat. "Only a few people were pulled out alive," a rescuer said.
Beyond the large number of passengers, rough seas in the offshore An Thoi area presented another obstacle, with strong waves despite no rainfall, further complicating rescue operations.
The An Thoi Border Patrol subsequently deployed two boats with 35 military personnel to the scene to assist the navy and other agencies. All 36 passengers were successfully brought ashore, with 21 survivors rescued. The remaining 15—consisting of 2 women and 13 men—were confirmed dead.
