15 Indian tourists lose their lives as boat capsizes near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island; 21 rescued in massive search operation

A major accident occurred on Saturday near Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, when a boat capsized, resulting in the deaths of 15 Indians. According to reports received, 32 of the passengers aboard the boat were Indian, most of them tourists from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A total of 36 people were on board, including four crew members, while 21 people were rescued. According to the information received, the accident occurred at around 10:30 am.

Eyewitnesses say that high waves may have caused the accident. The waves can be seen rising in the video. It is being reported that the tourists were not wearing life jackets. When the boat capsized, several people became trapped underneath it.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the accident, saying, "I express my deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this accident." PM Modi further stated that our officials are in constant contact with Vietnamese authorities.

It is worth noting that the boat was carrying Indian tourists on a trip from the Hon Mi route near Phu Quoc Island to Ngoc Island, but it capsized about 400 meters before reaching the shore. Ngoc Island is famous for its clear seas, small beaches, and coral reef diving. To reach it, tourists usually rent boats or speedboats from An Thoi port.

For emergency assistance and information for the victims, 24-hour control rooms have been set up with helpline numbers at the Indian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and the Embassy in Hanoi. The first control room can be reached at the following numbers: +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14, and +84 33 452 0414, while the second control room in Hanoi can be reached at +84 91 308 9165.