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The ill-fated speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members when the tragedy unfolded.
First-hand rescue accounts from civilian boat operators revealed that emergency efforts were severely hindered because numerous victims were trapped inside the flipped hull. (Photo: X)
Police have detained the captain of the speedboat that capsized off southern Vietnam on Saturday, leaving 15 Indian tourists dead. The captain, identified as Nguyen Hong Hai (57), is facing investigation for alleged violations of waterway transport safety regulations, according to state media.
Authorities said the speedboat, carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members, capsized on Saturday afternoon less than half a kilometre from the shore, shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai island near Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island.
16 Survivors Heading Back To India
The Indian Embassy in Hanoi announced on social media on Sunday that the 16 survivors of the boat accident were discharged from the hospital and were heading back home. However, one survivor remains in a critical condition in a Vietnamese hospital.
The bodies of the victims were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City before being flown to India after official formalities, according to the embassy.
All 15 victims were part of a company trip organised by Lava International, the smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturer said. The group, comprising employees, distributors and retail partners, had split into three boats while travelling between islands near Phu Quoc.
Group Members Rescued 4 Survivors
Ashish Kumar, a 48-year-old distributor from Guntur who witnessed the accident from the shore, said one boat had already departed while the other two remained docked when the vessel suddenly capsized less than half a kilometre from land. “We screamed, ‘Help! Help!’” he told the Associated Press.
Ha Van Loc, who was piloting a nearby boat, told state media VN Express that he saw around a dozen people clinging to the overturned vessel while others, who were without life jackets, struggled in rough seas. He and his crew rescued four survivors after throwing life buoys into the water.
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Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish…Read More
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