(Vietnam, 12th) According to Vietnamese media reports, a speedboat carrying 36 people capsized in the waters near southern Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island, resulting in 15 fatalities.
VnExpress, quoting preliminary information from the Phu Quoc Island Economic Zone authorities, reported that at around 1 p.m. on Saturday (July 11), the speedboat, operated by the Ocean Pear Island company, was carrying tourists from Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port, about 25 kilometers from Phu Quoc Island airport, when it capsized about 400 meters from Hon May Rut Ngoai (Outer Hon May Rut Island). All 32 Indian tourists and four crew members on board fell into the water.
Nearby boats rushed to assist with the rescue after discovering the capsized vessel. One boat owner who participated in the rescue said that his boat arrived at the scene within about five minutes, but many tourists were trapped under the overturned speedboat, which slowed down the rescue operation.
He said: “Only a few people were conscious when rescued.”
He also said that although it was not raining at the time of the incident, the sea near An Thoi was very rough.
The An Thoi Port border forces dispatched two boats and 35 officers to the scene, joining the navy, coast guard, and other relevant forces in the rescue operation.
By the afternoon, rescuers had brought all 36 people from the speedboat to shore; 21 survived, while 15 people — including two women and 13 men — were confirmed dead.
A representative from the Ocean Pear Island company, which operated the speedboat, said the vessel was conducting a sightseeing island tour when the accident occurred. The captain, about 50 years old, had many years of experience operating passenger boats.
Nearby boats rushed to assist with the rescue after discovering the capsized vessel. One boat owner who participated in the rescue said that his boat arrived at the scene within about five minutes, but many tourists were trapped under the overturned speedboat, which slowed down the rescue operation.
He said: “Only a few people were conscious when rescued.”
He also said that although it was not raining at the time of the incident, the sea near An Thoi was very rough.
The An Thoi Port border forces dispatched two boats and 35 officers to the scene, joining the navy, coast guard, and other relevant forces in the rescue operation.
By the afternoon, rescuers had brought all 36 people from the speedboat to shore; 21 survived, while 15 people — including two women and 13 men — were confirmed dead.
A representative from the Ocean Pear Island company, which operated the speedboat, said the vessel was conducting a sightseeing island tour when the accident occurred. The captain, about 50 years old, had many years of experience operating passenger boats.