Deadly Capsizing Off Phu Quoc Island
A speedboat carrying 36 people capsized near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, July 11, 2026, resulting in at least 15 deaths, including Indian tourists, according to Vietnamese newspaper VN Express. The vessel, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was ferrying tourists from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port, approximately 25 kilometers from Phu Quoc Airport, when it overturned in the afternoon local time, throwing all aboard into the sea.
Rescue Operations and Survivors
Nearby tourist boats rushed to the scene after spotting the capsized vessel. A boat owner involved in the rescue operation told VN Express that his vessel reached the site within about five minutes, but rescue efforts were hampered as several passengers were trapped inside the overturned speedboat. By late Saturday afternoon, rescuers had brought all 36 passengers ashore. According to VN Express, 21 people survived, while 15 others — comprising two women and 13 men — were confirmed dead.
Indian Tourists Among Victims
The Embassy of India in Vietnam confirmed that 32 Indian tourists were on board the boat. In a post on X, the embassy stated, "As per information received from official sources, the following 32 Indian tourists were onboard the boat which capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago." The embassy added that it was ascertaining further details of casualties and would update soon. Apart from the 32 Indians, there were three crew members and one flight attendant on the boat.
Control Rooms Established for Assistance
The Embassy of India in Vietnam announced that a control room has been established at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City to provide information and assistance to affected families. The control room can be reached at +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 3714, and +84 33 452 0414. Additionally, another control room has been set up in Hanoi and can be contacted at +84 91 308 9165 for assistance and queries. In an earlier post, the embassy described the incident as tragic and noted that search and rescue operations by local authorities were ongoing.
