Speedboat Carrying Indian Tourists Capsizes Off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island, Killing 15

At least 15 Indian tourists were killed when a speedboat capsized off Vietnam's southern resort island of Phu Quoc, in a disaster that unfolded within sight of shore as passengers cried out for help.

The vessel was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members when it overturned shortly after departing Hon May Rut Ngoai, a small island near Phu Quoc that is a popular stop on sightseeing and snorkeling excursions. Officials said the boat capsized less than half a kilometer from land, close enough that people onshore could hear the passengers screaming as the craft went over.

Rescuers pulled 21 people from the water, and the injured were rushed to hospitals for treatment. Search teams recovered the bodies of those who did not survive, and authorities worked through the day to account for everyone who had been aboard. The victims were all part of the group of Indian travelers, underscoring Phu Quoc's growing popularity as a destination for international visitors drawn to its beaches and clear coastal waters.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. Investigators were examining a range of possible factors, including the vessel's condition, its passenger load and weather and sea conditions at the time. Vietnam's prime minister ordered a full investigation and directed authorities to determine responsibility and hold those at fault accountable, a signal of how seriously the government is treating an incident that killed foreign tourists during peak travel season.

Phu Quoc, an island in the Gulf of Thailand off Vietnam's southwestern coast, has transformed in recent years from a quiet fishing community into one of the country's fastest-growing tourism hubs, with new resorts, an international airport and a steady flow of visitors from across Asia. The disaster is likely to intensify scrutiny of safety standards for the small tour boats that ferry travelers among the region's islands, and it cast a somber shadow over an area that markets itself as a carefree tropical escape. Indian officials were in contact with Vietnamese authorities to assist the families of the victims and coordinate the return of the dead and injured.

Maritime accidents involving tour boats are a recurring hazard across Southeast Asia, where booming tourism has outpaced safety enforcement in some coastal areas and sudden squalls can overturn small vessels with little warning. Survivors and witnesses described a chaotic scramble as rescue boats, hotel staff and other tour operators rushed toward the overturned craft. The tragedy is expected to prompt a review of licensing, life-jacket requirements and weather protocols for the fleets that shuttle tourists between Phu Quoc and its outlying islands, as Vietnamese officials seek to reassure a rattled international tourism industry ahead of the busy summer season.