Fifteen Indian Tourists Die in Vietnam Boat Mishap; Captain Held

Authorities in Vietnam on Sunday took into custody the captain of a speed boat following a tragic incident where the vessel overturned off the country's southern coast, resulting in the deaths of fifteen Indian tourists. The ill-fated speed boat, which had 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members on board, capsized on Saturday afternoon. This occurred less than 500 meters from the coastline, shortly after its departure from Hon May Rut Ngoai island, situated close to Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, according to official reports.

State media reports indicate that the captain, identified as 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai, is currently facing an investigation for purported breaches of waterway transport safety protocols. The Indian Embassy in Hanoi announced on Sunday via social media that sixteen individuals who survived Saturday's speed boat mishap have been released from medical care and are making arrangements to return to India. However, one survivor remains hospitalised in Vietnam, battling for life in critical condition.

The embassy also confirmed that the remains of those who perished are being moved to Ho Chi Minh City. From there, they will be repatriated to India once all necessary official procedures are completed. According to Tuoi Tre newspaper, "initial assessments by Vietnamese authorities suggest this was an unavoidable incident caused by extreme weather conditions" which reportedly deteriorated quickly.

All fifteen deceased individuals were participants in a corporate excursion organised by Lava International, an Indian firm specializing in smartphones and consumer electronics. The company stated that this trip was arranged for its employees, distributors, and retail partners. Ashish Kumar, a 48-year-old distributor for Lava International from Guntur, India, who was also on the trip, recounted witnessing the tragedy from the shore. He explained that their group had divided into three separate parties for inter-island travel.

Kumar noted that the first boat had already set off, while the other two remained at the dock when the incident occurred. Speaking to The Associated Press via phone, Kumar stated that the boat was quite near the shore when it overturned. He recalled the desperate cries: "We screamed, 'Help! Help!'" and observed nearby boats swiftly moving in to assist. However, he lamented, "But by then it was too late."