Two Andhra tourists among 15 killed in Vietnam boat tragedy; Three hospitalised

Two tourists from Andhra Pradesh were among 15 Indians killed after a speedboat capsized near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island. Three others from the state were hospitalised, while authorities continued rescue efforts and investigated the cause of the accident

Amaravati: Two people from Andhra Pradesh were killed and three others from the state were hospitalised in Vietnam following a tourist boat capsize near Phu Quoc Island, sources in the Andhra Pradesh government said.

The tourist speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized near Phu Quoc Island while returning to An Thoi Port, the sources further said.

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The accident claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists, while 21 others were rescued. Of the survivors, 17 were passengers, and four were crew members.

Two remained in critical condition, and all 36 persons on board have been accounted for. “Preliminary information indicates that two persons from Machilipatnam are among the deceased. We are coordinating with the Indian Embassy and the Vietnamese authorities, and further details will be shared after official confirmation,” Andhra Pradesh sources told PTI.

Three other people from the state were hospitalised following the boat capsize, the sources added. The An Thoi Border Guard Station, the Navy, Coast Guard Region 4 and local boats launched a large-scale rescue operation. Life rafts and jet skis were deployed, they said.

The tour was organised by Vietnam-based Threeland Travel through local coordinating vendor Sai Vietnam, while the Indian tourist group was reportedly associated with Lava Mobile. Preliminary reports indicated that Jalalakshmi and Jayashree, both from Machilipatnam in Andhra Pradesh, were among the deceased.

Verification of the identities of other affected Indian nationals was underway, the sources said. The cause of the accident was under investigation, with rough sea conditions and possible mechanical failure suspected.