At least fifteen Indian tourists have died after a boat capsized near an island off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc on Saturday (July 11, 2026).
The tourist speedboat AG 26751, operated by Ocean Pearl Island Company (Minh Huy Phu Quoc Trading and Tourism Co. Ltd. was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members from Hon May Rut to An Thoi Port, according to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International. It capsized about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai, throwing everyone on board into the sea.
Sea conditions were rough with large waves in the area at the time, the report added.
Earlier, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said that it set up control rooms as search and rescue operations would continue.
But the Indian mission is yet to share details about the deaths. “In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam,” it said in the post.
It added that control rooms have been established at the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City and at the Embassy in Hanoi to provide information and assistance.
In a tragic incident, a boat carrying several Indian tourists has capsized near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam a few hours ago.
Exact details of the incident are being ascertained as search and rescue operations by local authorities are ongoing.
In order to provide information…
The first control room can be reached at: +84 36 281 7930, +84 91 552 37 14 and +84 33 452 0414.
The other one in Hanoi can be reached at: +84 91 308 9165 They are available for any assistance and queries, the Indian mission said.
Sources from AP Bhavan in New Delhi said that the Vietnamese authorities have confirmed that all persons on board have been accounted for.
According to Vietnamese authorities, the boat mishap led to 15 fatalities (13 men and 2 women), all Indian tourists. Twenty-one persons (17 passengers and 4 crew members) were rescued and admitted to hospitals. Two survivors remain in critical condition and are receiving intensive medical care.
Search and rescue operations by local authorities are under way, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said after a boat carrying Indian tourists capsized in Vietnam on July 11, 2026. Credit: X/ANI video screengrab
Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, has become one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting many Indian visitors in recent years.
“Our Embassy and Consulate are providing all possible assistance. Our officials are also in close contact with the Vietnamese authorities,” said PM Modi on the boat incident. Expressing his concern for the victims PM said, “Extremely saddened to learn about tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam.”
Preliminary information indicates that seven persons from the Telugu States were among the tourists: Ramasubbu Annavi, Nagalamadugu Sohan, Nallapata Adiseshaiah, Chithapuram Bhaskara Vinay Kumar, Gelli Kishore, Gelli Jayalakshmi (Machilipatnam), and Mudium Sreedhar (Kadapa). Their status is being verified through official channels.
The AP Bhavan officials said based on information presently available, Gelli Jayalakshmi (Machilipatnam), Mudium Sreedhar (49), Kadapa, and Thomas Avicot Cheriyan (Tamil Nadu) have been confirmed as dead. The Kadapa district administration has contacted Mr. Sreedhar’s family and is extending all necessary assistance. Photographs of the rescued survivors have also been released by the local authorities to facilitate identification by family members.
The Embassy of India in Vietnam has activated its emergency response mechanism. The Indian Ambassador, accompanied by Embassy officials, is proceeding to Phu Quoc Island to coordinate with Vietnamese authorities, oversee consular assistance and facilitate support to the affected families. The official list of deceased is expected after completion of the formal identification process, around 8:00 p.m.
Extremely saddened to learn about the tragic news of a boat accident involving Indian nationals near Phu Quoc, Vietnam.
My sincere condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. My prayers for the early recovery of the injured survivors.
Our Embassy and Consulate are…
With inputs from PTI, Reuters
Published - July 11, 2026 03:18 pm IST