Vietnam boat accident: PM Modi tweets ‘extremely saddened’ as 15 Indians die in Phu Quoc
PM Modi said that the Indian Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance. “Our officials are also in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said he was deeply saddened by the deaths of Indian nationals in a boat accident near Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Expressing his sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, he said that Indian missions are providing all possible help.
15 Indian tourists were killed in the incident on Saturday. According to PTI sources, the tourists were employees of a private mobile phone company — Lava Mobile — attending an annual meeting.
"Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam," Modi said in a post on X. “My sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. My prayers for the early recovery of the injured survivors.”
Quick answers to key questions
The exact cause of the boat accident is under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest it may have overturned due to strong winds and high waves in the area.
The boat was carrying 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists and four crew members, when it capsized off the coast of Phu Quoc.
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam is providing assistance to the families of the victims and is in close contact with local authorities to monitor the situation and facilitate rescue efforts.
Among the deceased were employees of a private mobile phone company, specifically two individuals from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, according to preliminary reports.
Immediately after the accident, nearby boats responded quickly to rescue passengers, followed by a coordinated rescue operation involving the Vietnamese navy, coast guard, and local rescue agencies.
The prime minister also said that the Indian Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance. "Our officials are also in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities," he said.
PM Modi departed for home on Saturday after concluding a two-day visit to New Zealand.
Vietnam boat accident
A speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai, an island in the An Thoi archipelago off the coast of Phu Quoc, according to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International.
The tour was reportedly organised by Vietnam-based Threeland Travel through local coordinating vendor Sai Vietnam.
21 people were rescued, and all the dead (15) were recovered, authorities said. The injured were taken to hospitals. Of the survivors, 17 were passengers, and four were crew members.
Two remained in critical condition, and all 36 persons on board have been accounted for, the authorities said.
Phu Quoc in the Gulf of Thailand is one of Vietnam's most popular beach destinations. Hon May Rut island is about 10 kilometres (6 miles) south of Phu Quoc. They're known for their white-sand beaches and clear waters and draw millions of domestic and foreign tourists each year.
Adverse weather conditions, rough seas and a possible mechanical malfunction are being examined as the probable causes of the accident, Dr Arja Srikanth, Special Commissioner and Special Representative for the Andhra Pradesh Government at AP Bhavan in New Delhi, told ANI.
2 Andhra residents killed
Two people from Andhra Pradesh were killed, and three others from the state were hospitalised in Vietnam, news agency PTI reported, citing sources in the Andhra Pradesh government.
"Preliminary information indicates that two persons from Machilipatnam are among the deceased. We are coordinating with the Indian Embassy and the Vietnamese authorities, and further details will be shared after official confirmation," Andhra Pradesh sources told PTI.
Preliminary reports indicated that Jalalakshmi and Jayashree, both from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, were among the deceased.
Seven people from the Telugu States were among the tourists, Dr Srikanth said.
About the Author
Arshdeep Kaur is a Senior Content Producer at Mint, where she reports and edits across national and international politics, business and culture‑adjacent trending stories for digital audience. With five years in the newsroom, she strives to balance the speed and rigor of fast‑moving news cycles and longer, context‑rich explainers. <br><br> Before joining LiveMint, Arshdeep served as a Senior Sub‑Editor at Business Standard and earlier as a Sub‑Editor at Asian News International (ANI). Her experience spans live news flows, enterprise features, and multi‑platform packaging. <br><br> At Mint, she regularly writes explainers, quick takes, and visuals‑led stories that are optimized for search and social, while maintaining the publication’s standards for accuracy and clarity. She collaborates closely with editors and the audience team to frame angles that resonate with readers in India and abroad, and to translate complex developments into accessible, high‑impact journalism. <br><br> Arshdeep's academic training underpins her interest towards policy and markets. She earned an MA in Economics from Panjab University and holds a Post‑Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the India Today Media Institute (ITMI). This blend of economics and broadcast storytelling informs her coverage of public policy, elections, macro themes, and the consumer‑internet zeitgeist. <br><br> Arshdeep is based in New Delhi, where she tracks breaking developments and longer‑horizon storylines that shape public discourse.
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