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Vietnam detains speedboat captain after 15 Indian tourists die in boat accident
Vietnamese authorities have detained the captain of a speedboat that overturned off the coast of southern Vietnam, killing 15 Indian tourists during a company trip.
The boat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members when it capsized Saturday afternoon near Hon May Rut Ngoai island, located off Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island. The vessel overturned less than half a kilometer from shore shortly after departing the island.
The captain, 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai, is being investigated for possible violations of waterway transport safety regulations.
Sixteen survivors have since been released from the hospital and are returning to India, while one person remains in critical condition at a Vietnamese hospital. The victims’ bodies were transported to Ho Chi Minh City before being sent to India following completion of official procedures.
The victims were part of a company-organized trip arranged by Lava International, an Indian smartphone and electronics manufacturer, for employees, distributors and retail partners.
Ashish Kumar, a company distributor from India who witnessed the accident from shore, said the group had been divided among three boats traveling between islands. One boat had already left while the other two were still preparing when the vessel suddenly capsized.
Nearby boat operators immediately rushed to help, but difficult sea conditions complicated rescue efforts. A nearby captain said he saw people clinging to the overturned boat while others struggled in the water.
Rescuers used life buoys, ropes, smaller vessels and Jet Skis to reach survivors as waves reaching up to 10 feet made it difficult for larger boats to approach. Several people were trapped inside the overturned vessel and escaped through openings in the bow and windows.
After survivors reached shore, tourists and tour company workers provided emergency assistance, including performing CPR and administering oxygen before injured passengers were taken to a local hospital.
Officials said the 15 people killed included 10 from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.
Phu Quoc and nearby islands are among Vietnam’s most popular tourist destinations, known for beaches and clear waters that attract millions of visitors each year. India has become one of Vietnam’s fastest-growing tourism markets, with hundreds of thousands of Indian travelers visiting the country annually.
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