PHU QUOC, VIETNAM — A dream holiday turned into an international tragedy on Saturday, July 11, 2026, after a tourist speedboat capsized off the coast of Vietnam’s southern island of Phu Quoc, leaving at least 15 Indian tourists dead and several others injured.

The vessel, operated by the Ocean Pearl Island Company, was transporting a large group of mobile phone dealers and distributors from India who were visiting the popular tropical destination as part of a company-sponsored incentive trip organized by Lava International (Lava Mobiles).

The incident occurred at approximately 1:00 p.m. local time as the speedboat was traveling from Hon May Rut islet back toward An Thoi Port. The vessel was carrying a total of 36 people—consisting of 32 Indian passengers and four crew members—when it suddenly overturned roughly 400 meters off the Coast of Hon May Rut Ngoai Island.

According to initial reports from local maritime authorities and eyewitness accounts, the area was experiencing adverse weather conditions marked by heavy winds and sudden, massive waves. "A big wave hit us," recalled Nirmal Kumar, a survivor of the tragedy. "It's a closed boat. Since we were at the front, we managed to survive. Others who were behind got stuck inside."

Nearby tourist vessels immediately rushed to the location to pull survivors from the water before local border guards, the navy, and the coast guard arrived to launch a massive search-and-rescue operation. First responders noted that the rescue was severely complicated because many of the victims became trapped within the hull of the overturned, enclosed vessel.

Vietnamese authorities confirmed that 21 people were successfully rescued from the water, including all four local crew members. The remaining 15 passengers—comprising 13 men and two women, all Indian nationals—tragically lost their lives.

The deceased individuals have been identified as hailing primarily from southern India, including ten from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.

The survivors were rushed to nearby district hospitals for emergency treatment. While most are stable, hospital officials reported that at least two survivors remain in intensive care under critical condition. The disaster has drawn profound grief and immediate political action from both nations. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his deep sorrow over the incident on social media.

"Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam," Modi stated, offering condolences to the families and praying for the recovery of the injured.

The Indian Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City have activated emergency response protocols, establishing 24-hour control rooms to assist the victims' families and coordinate the repatriation of the deceased.

In Hanoi, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung issued an official dispatch ordering a comprehensive investigation into the exact cause of the capsizing. While preliminary assessments point heavily toward rough sea conditions and sudden high waves, authorities are examining potential structural or mechanical factors. Prime Minister Hung has ordered local departments to deploy all available medical resources for the survivors and mandated a sweeping safety review of all passenger waterway transit across the region's tourist islands.