From holiday to heartbreak: What we know about the Vietnam boat tragedy that killed 15 Indians

At least 15 Indian tourists were killed after a speedboat carrying holidaymakers overturned near Vietnam's popular Phu Quoc Island, turning what was meant to be the final outing of their trip into a tragedy.

Rescue teams rushed to the scene after the accident, while the Indian Embassy in Vietnam coordinated with local authorities to assist the victims and their families.

The speedboat, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port when it capsized around 400 metres off the coast, according to Vietnamese news outlet VnExpress.

The group was part of a larger contingent of around 100 Indian tourists travelling in three boats.

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Most of the victims were employees and distributors of Lava Mobiles. Their return flight to India was scheduled for Sunday morning, making the boat excursion one of the last activities planned during their holiday.

Who were the victims?

The Indian Embassy in Vietnam released the names of the 32 Indian tourists who were on board the ill-fated boat and said it was working to ascertain further details about the casualties.

Among those killed were 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. The embassy said it remained in close contact with Vietnamese authorities and was extending all possible assistance to the affected families.

What caused the accident?

According to VnExpress, the accident occurred after the boat encountered rough sea conditions near Hon May Rut Islet. Although there was no rainfall and other tourist boats continued operating in the area, large waves reportedly made the waters choppy.

The report said the speedboat was travelling towards An Thoi Port, around 25 kilometres from Phu Quoc Airport, when it overturned, throwing everyone on board into the sea. Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the accident.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is one of the country's most visited tourist destinations and has become increasingly popular among Indian travellers. Hon May Rut Islet is known for snorkelling, diving and other water sports.

'A big wave hit us': Survivor recounts ordeal

One of the survivors, Nirmal Kumar from Palani in Tamil Nadu, described the terrifying moments when the boat capsized.

Speaking to PTI, Kumar said a large wave struck the vessel suddenly. "A big wave hit us, 20 people came out of it, and the remaining members got stuck. It's a closed boat. Since we were on the front, we managed to survive. Others who were behind got stuck," he said.

He added that two people remained in critical condition while the other survivors were receiving medical treatment. Kumar also said the boat operator had followed the required safety measures before the journey began.

The tragedy has raised fresh concerns over tourist safety during sea excursions, even in destinations that remain operational despite changing weather and sea conditions.

Rescue and relief efforts continued as authorities worked to recover victims, assist survivors and determine the circumstances that led to one of the deadliest accidents involving Indian tourists in Vietnam in recent years.