Tourist speedboat capsized off Vietnam, 15 dead

Ambulances line up on a pier to help victims after a tourist vessel capsized off Phu Quoc island

Fifteen people died when a speedboat filled with Indian tourists overturned near Hon May Rut Ngoai island in southern Vietnam.

Around 32 Indian passengers and four crew members were aboard the vessel. It overturned roughly 400 metres (1,312 ft) from the island in rough sea conditions on Saturday.

Rescue vessels that operated in the area responded swiftly, extracting many passengers trapped inside the capsized boat. Twenty‑one people were later rescued.

Hon May Rut Ngoai is a pristine island in the An Thoi Archipelago of the Gulf of Thailand, popular for island‑hopping tours.

Nguyen Tien Hai, a senior Communist official in the area, said authorities were still confirming the exact numbers of those who died and survived. He cited strong winds and high waves as probable causes for the capsize.

The Indian embassy in Vietnam described the incident as "tragic," releasing a full list of the 32 nationals on board. Hotline numbers were made available to provide information to families.

Video from the scene shows the capsized boat