The vessel carrying 36 people overturned amidst rough sea conditions, prompting a massive rescue operation and condolences from PM Narendra Modi.
PHU QUOC, VIETNAM — July 11, 2026 — At least 15 Indian tourists were killed after a speedboat capsized off the coast of the southern Phu Quoc Island on Saturday. The vessel was carrying 36 people—including 32 Indian passengers, three crew members, and one attendant—when it overturned approximately 400 meters off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island.
The incident occurred around 1:00 PM local time while the speedboat, operated by the Ocean Pear Island Company, was ferrying tourists back toward An Thoi Port during an island-hopping excursion. Local authorities from the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone reported that despite the absence of immediate rainfall, strong winds and rough sea conditions caused the boat to turn upside down, throwing everyone on board into the water.
Nearby tourist boats immediately rushed to the scene within minutes to launch initial rescue efforts. The operation was highly complex as several passengers became trapped underneath the overturned hull of the vessel. A multi-agency rescue force, including the An Thoi Border Guard, the Vietnamese Navy, and the Coast Guard, deployed personnel and vessels to locate survivors.
By late Saturday afternoon, rescuers confirmed that all 36 individuals had been accounted for. While 21 people were successfully rescued and shifted to local hospitals, 15 others—comprising 13 men and two women—were pronounced dead.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the tragedy, conveying his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims.
“Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam,” Prime Minister Modi stated in a post on X. “Our Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities.”
The Indian Embassy in Hanoi has released the passenger manifest containing the names of the 32 Indian nationals who were on board. Dedicated emergency response control rooms have been quickly established at the Embassy in Hanoi (+84 91 308 9165) and the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City (+84 36 281 7930) to coordinate consular services and support the affected families.
