Vietnam detains captain after Phu Quoc boat tragedy kills 15 Indians

Vietnamese authorities detained the speedboat captain after 15 Indian tourists died off Phu Quoc Island. The case has triggered a criminal probe and a temporary halt to island tours.

In Short

• The boat carried 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members
• It overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai island
• Survivors were rescued after the group was returning from an island visit

Vietnamese authorities have detained the operator of a speedboat that capsized off Phu Quoc Island, killing 15 Indian tourists, and have launched a criminal investigation into the accident, media reports said on Sunday.

The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members when it overturned near Hon May Rut Ngoai off southern Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday. Fifteen Indian tourists died, while the others were rescued. Hours after the accident, Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung ordered an inquiry into its cause and asked authorities to hold those responsible accountable, local media reported.

The detained man was identified as Captain Nguyen Hong Hai, 57, a resident of Thuan Tien hamlet in Son Kien commune of An Giang province, who was temporarily staying in the Phu Quoc special zone, Vietnamese news portal VN Express International reported.

According to reports, the Indian tourists were returning from an island visit when the speedboat capsized about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai island. After the accident, investigators and other authorities examined the scene, collected evidence and documents, and recorded statements from those involved to determine the cause, VN Express said. It added that the investigation is continuing and that any violations will be dealt with under Vietnamese law.

In a related development, speedboat tours to the An Thoi Archipelago off Phu Quoc Island have been temporarily suspended after the accident, Tuoi Tre News reported. Local operators and authorities said services will resume only when weather conditions improve to ensure visitor safety. Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is a major tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping trips.

The accident has led to a criminal investigation, the detention of the speedboat captain and a temporary halt to tours in the area, as Vietnamese authorities continue to examine the circumstances behind the deaths of 15 Indian tourists.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends