A tragic boating accident near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam has claimed lives of at least 15 Indian tourists, with the Indian Embassy in Hanoi confirming fatalities on Saturday . Among the deceased, ten hailed from Tamil Nadu,while others were from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. The speedboat, carrying 36 passengers,capsized approximately 400 meters from May Rut Ngoai Islet.
Nirmal Kumar, a survivor from Tamil Nadu, recounted the harrowing moments leading up to the disaster. "We were all excited when we started, but suddenly boat encountered a giant wave and capsized in no time," he said, struggling to comprehend how he managed to escape. The group,primarily distributors and sales partners for the Indian mobile phone manufacturer Lava,had traveled to Vietnam for an incentive trip after achieving sales targets.
The boat was en route from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port for lunch when disaster struck. Kumar described the moment of capsizing,stating, "We saw a giant wave strike boat, and it turned upside down. Everything was over in a second." He lost a close friend,Murugaprabhu, in the incident and expressed deep sorrow over tragedy.
Rescue operations commenced swiftly, with nearby tourist boats responding to the overturned vessel. However, many passengers were trapped inside,complicating the rescue efforts. Kumar noted that all passengers had adhered to safety protocols and were wearing life jackets . Vietnamese police have since recorded his statement as part of the investigation.
While the exact cause of the accident remains unclear, Kumar speculated that number of passengers and the rough sea conditions might have contributed. "The number of people could have been one reason, but we really don’t know what happened. The boat operators told us at the beginning that the ride would be safe," he explained.
Among the victims were A C Thomas and his wife Loveny,a couple from Kottarakkara in Kerala . Thomas, managing director of a local pharmaceutical distribution firm, had traveled to Vietnam with his wife just days prior to the incident. They are survived by their son and daughter. The Chief Minister’s Office in Kerala has stated that the Non-resident Keralites Affairs department is coordinating with Vietnamese authorities to facilitate the return of the victims' bodies .
The Indian Embassy has released names of the 32 Indian nationals who were on board the boat, along with a separate list of the deceased. The families of the victims are now grappling with the loss, with many expressing disbelief and sorrow over sudden tragedy.
As the investigation continues, the Indian government is in close contact with Vietnamese authorities to ascertain further details of incident. swift response from local rescue teams has been acknowledged,but the grief of the families affected remains profound .
