15 Indian tourists killed as speedboat capsizes in Vietnam
Collected Photo
At least 15 Indian tourists have been killed after a speedboat capsized near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island in the country's south. Vietnamese authorities confirmed the accident on Saturday, saying the vessel was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members.
Twenty-one people were rescued alive following the accident and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The cause of the incident has not yet been determined.
According to local media reports, the speedboat was returning to An Thoi International Port from the popular tourist destination of Hon May Rut Ngoai Island on Saturday afternoon when it overturned about 400 metres from the tourist island.
Images shared on social media showed rescuers pulling victims from the water and attempting to revive them.
Witnesses told local news outlet VN Express that nearby boats rushed to the scene and began rescuing passengers before Vietnam's border guards, navy and coast guard arrived. The rescue operation proved particularly difficult because many passengers were trapped inside the overturned boat.
In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said rescue efforts by Vietnamese authorities were still under way. It added that control rooms had been set up in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to coordinate with the victims' families. The embassy said it was working to gather accurate and detailed information about the incident.
In July last year, 39 people were killed when the tourist boat Wonder Sea sank during a severe thunderstorm in Ha Long Bay, one of the deadliest boating disasters in Vietnam's history.
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc Island is one of Vietnam's most popular beach destinations. Hon May Rut Island, situated about 10 kilometres south of Phu Quoc, attracts millions of visitors each year with its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters.
(Source: Agencies)
