Hyderabad, India, July 11: At least 15 people, including Indian tourists, lost their lives after a speedboat carrying 36 people capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island on Saturday. The victims included tourists from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
According to Vietnamese authorities, the deceased comprised 13 men and two women. Arja Srikanth, Special Commissioner, AP Bhavan, New Delhi, confirmed the deaths of two Andhra Pradesh residents—Gelli Jayalakshmi of Machilipatnam and Mudium Sridhat of Kadapa.
Following the incident, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to expedite relief measures. He asked the Chief Secretary to gather details of the accident, remain in contact with the Centre and embassy officials, and ensure that the injured receive medical assistance. The Chief Minister also said the Telangana government would extend support to the affected families.
Union Minister of State Bandi Sanjay Kumar expressed grief over the loss of lives and said Indian diplomatic missions in Vietnam were working with local authorities and assisting those affected.
According to Vietnamese newspaper VN Express, the speedboat, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was travelling from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port, about 25 kilometres from Phu Quoc Airport, when it overturned, throwing all passengers into the sea.
Nearby tourist boats reached the accident site within minutes and joined rescue efforts. However, several passengers were trapped inside the overturned vessel, making the operation difficult. Rescue teams later brought all 36 people ashore. Twenty-one people survived, while 15 were confirmed dead.
The Embassy of India in Vietnam said that 32 Indian tourists were on board the boat, along with three crew members and one flight attendant. The embassy stated that search and rescue operations were carried out by local authorities and that a control room had been set up at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City to assist affected families. Another control room was also established in Hanoi for information and support.