On 11 July, a speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized near the Vietnamese island of Phu Quoc. According to local authorities and the media, 15 people were killed, whilst a further 21 were rescued. Adverse weather conditions are cited as the cause of the accident; the investigation is ongoing.
Briefly about the main points
- The boat capsized 400 metres from Hong Mei Rut Island.
- There were 32 Indian tourists and 4 crew members on board.
- Fifteen Indian nationals were killed and 21 people were rescued.
- The rescue operation was hampered by the wind and waves.
- India and Vietnam have organised aid for those affected.
The circumstances of the accident and the boat’s route
The incident occurred at around 13:00 local time, whilst a boat operated by Ocean Pear Island Company was on a tourist trip between the islands. The vessel was travelling from Hon Mei Rut Island to An Thoi Port. According to preliminary findings by the local authorities, the capsizing was caused by strong gusts of wind and high waves.
The scene of the accident is approximately 400 metres from the coast of the islet of Hon Mei Rut Ngoai. At the time of the accident, there were 36 people on board, 32 of whom were Indian nationals.
The rescue operation and the number of casualties
Rescue operations began immediately after the accident, but were hampered by adverse weather conditions and the fact that some of the passengers were trapped inside the capsized vessel. Crews from other tourist boats were the first to come to their aid, and they were later joined by the coastguard, the navy and the emergency services.
Fifteen people died as a result of the disaster — all of them Indian nationals. Twenty-one people were rescued and taken to hospitals for treatment.
Official response and assistance for those affected
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi He expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and stated that Indian diplomatic missions were providing the necessary support to those affected. The Indian Embassy in Vietnam promptly set up emergency response centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
The Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation into the causes of the disaster and are carrying out a safety review of maritime transport in the Fukuoka region, which remains one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations.
- Consulate-General of India in Ho Chi Minh City: +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14, +84 33 452 0414
- Indian Embassy in Hanoi: +84 91 308 9165
The region’s significance for tourism
Fukuok Island, situated in the Gulf of Siam, is rapidly developing as a tourist destination. Over 5.7 million people visited the island in the first six months of 2026. Indian tourists account for a significant proportion of the foreign visitor numbers in this region.
Why it matters
The disaster in Fukuoka has drawn attention to maritime safety issues in Vietnam’s tourist regions. The incident has also proved a serious test for emergency response systems and cross-border cooperation in the field of tourist protection.
