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🇮🇳 India /Crime & Justice

Vietnam Police Arrest Boat Captain After 15 Indian Tourists Die in Capsizing

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Vietnamese police arrested the captain of a speedboat that capsized near Phu Quoc island, killing 15 Indian tourists.
  • The incident occurred on Saturday in rough seas, with 32 Indian tourists and three Vietnamese crew members aboard.
  • Authorities are investigating the cause, with initial assessments suggesting extreme weather, while other boats operated safely nearby.

Vietnamese police have arrested the captain of a speedboat that capsized near the southern island of Phu Quoc, resulting in the deaths of 15 Indian tourists. The incident occurred on Saturday when the vessel, carrying 32 Indian tourists, three Vietnamese crew members, and a tour guide, overturned in rough seas off May Rut Ngoai islet.

initial assessments by Vietnamese authorities suggest this was an unavoidable incident caused by extreme weather conditions

— Tuoi Tre newspaperReporting initial findings from Vietnamese authorities.

Rescuers recovered 21 people, but 15 passengers were pronounced dead. The 57-year-old captain was arrested in southern An Giang province for "violations of laws" leading to the capsize. Initial assessments by Vietnamese authorities suggest the incident was unavoidable and caused by rapidly shifting extreme weather conditions. However, sailors involved in the rescue reported high waves but no rain at the time, noting that several other tourist boats were operating in the vicinity without issue.

there were high waves but no rain at the time, and several other tourist boats were operating in the area.

— sailors involved in the rescue effortDescribing the conditions at the time of the incident.

Witnesses described seeing the overturned vessel with men clinging to its hull, while others drifted without life jackets. Rescue efforts involved throwing lifebuoys and using jet skis to transport victims ashore. The Indian embassy in Hanoi confirmed that 15 survivors had been discharged from the hospital and were returning to India, with one person in critical condition receiving treatment. The bodies of the deceased were also being transported back to India. Following the tragedy, several tourism companies suspended their speedboat services between the islets near Phu Quoc, an area known for its tourist appeal but also prone to boating accidents due to weather and maintenance issues.

We were taking pictures and…

— Vietnam boat accident survivorsRecalling the moments before the tragedy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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