At least 15 Indian tourists have been killed after a speedboat capsized off the coast of Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island and a popular beach destination in the country's south. The vessel, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members, overturned on Saturday around 400 metres from the shore of Hon May Rut Ngoai, a small islet located approximately 10 kilometres south of Phu Quoc, known for its clear waters, white sand beaches and accessible diving reefs. All 36 people on board were thrown into the sea.

Among the 15 confirmed dead are 13 men and 2 women, all Indian nationals. Twenty-one people — 17 passengers and all four crew members — were rescued and taken to hospital, with two survivors in critical condition receiving intensive care. The speedboat, operated by Ocean Pearl Island Company, was travelling from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port when it capsized. Local authorities, including coast guard boats and nearby tourist vessels, responded quickly to the emergency; rescue teams used jetskis and threw flotation buoys to those in the water, though the operation was hampered by rough seas and the fact that many passengers were trapped inside the overturned hull. According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the tourists were employees of a telecommunications company on a staff excursion.

Nguyen Tien Hai, a senior Communist Party provincial official, said initial assessments suggested the boat likely overturned due to heavy winds and high waves. Vietnamese authorities confirmed that all persons on board have been accounted for. The Indian Ambassador in Vietnam travelled to Phu Quoc to coordinate with local authorities and oversee consular assistance, while the Indian Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City both established emergency control rooms to support affected families.

Prime Minister Modi expressed being