15 Killed as Tourist Boat Capsizes off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island, Most Victims from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

At least 15 Indian tourists died and two remained in critical condition after a speedboat capsized near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, in one of the deadliest accidents involving Indian nationals abroad in recent years.

The vessel, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members , was travelling from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island to An Thoi Port when it overturned about 400 metres off the coast , throwing everyone into rough seas with large waves, according to local authorities. Sea conditions and a possible mechanical failure have both been cited as likely factors, though the exact cause remains under investigation.

Of the 36 people on board , 21 were rescued and taken to local hospitals, while 15 bodies , comprising 13 men and two women, were recovered. The An Thoi Border Guard Station, the Navy, Coast Guard Region 4 and nearby tourist boats launched a large-scale search-and-rescue operation, deploying life rafts and jet skis.

The tourists were part of a corporate reward trip organised for employees and channel partners of Lava Mobiles. Around 250 Indians were travelling as part of the broader group, including nearly 75 people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana . Officials said 10 of the deceased were from Tamil Nadu , including 44-year-old Murugaprabhu of Dindigul, a Lava distributor who had earned the trip as an incentive for strong business performance. Two victims were from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh , while three others from the state remain hospitalized .

Lava Mobiles said its teams in India and Vietnam were in constant touch with affected families and were coordinating with the Indian Embassy and local authorities. Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh held an emergency meeting with the Ministry of External Affairs to coordinate relief efforts and repatriation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "extremely saddened" by the tragedy, offering condolences to the bereaved families and assuring that Indian missions were extending all possible assistance. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City have set up control rooms and released helpline numbers for families seeking information.