Indian tourist recounts moments before the Vietnam boat tragedy
The vietnam boat capsized incident that claimed the lives of several Indian tourists has left families and fellow travellers in deep shock. An Indian businessman who witnessed the accident said the tourist boat had travelled only a short distance from the shore before suddenly overturning, giving passengers little time to react.
The accident occurred on Saturday near Hon May Rut Ngoai Island in southern Vietnam, where a group of Indian visitors had been enjoying a company-sponsored trip. According to Vietnamese media reports, at least 15 Indian tourists lost their lives in the accident. The speedboat was also carrying four crew members at the time.
Boat overturned after travelling only 300 400 metres
Ashish Kumar, a 48-year-old distributor from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh, described the terrifying moments while speaking to PTI. He said the group had been divided among three boats as part of an island-hopping tour.
According to Kumar, one boat carrying 32 Indian tourists departed from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island for another nearby destination, while the passengers assigned to the remaining two boats stayed behind to take photographs.
The accident reportedly took place at around 1:30 pm local time. Kumar said the boat had travelled only 300 to 400 metres from the island before suddenly tipping over.
He recalled that the incident unfolded so quickly that those standing on the shore could only watch helplessly.
“We were taking pictures, and within moments the boat overturned. It had barely left the island,” Kumar said, adding that people immediately began shouting for help.
Weather was not considered severe, witness says
Kumar said the weather did not appear dangerous at the time of the accident. While there was some wind, he noted that such conditions are common around islands and did not seem unusual enough to suggest an immediate safety risk.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the accident. Investigators are expected to examine several factors, including weather conditions, the boat’s condition, passenger load, and operational procedures before determining what led to the tragedy.
Rescue operation launched soon after the accident
According to the eyewitness, rescue personnel reached the scene shortly after the boat overturned and began bringing survivors and victims back to shore.
However, Kumar claimed that medical teams were not immediately available when those rescued arrived on land. He said there were no healthcare professionals present to provide emergency treatment such as CPR during the critical early moments following the rescue.
He described the atmosphere among the survivors as one of disbelief and emotional distress as they waited for updates on their fellow travellers.
Families among the victims
Many members of the tour had travelled to Vietnam with their spouses and family members as part of the company’s outing.
Kumar shared the story of one distributor who was travelling with his wife. According to him, the woman died in the accident, while her husband remains hospitalized and is receiving treatment for serious injuries.
After the rescue efforts concluded, the surviving members of the group returned to their hotel, where they continued to await official updates from local authorities.
Lava International expresses condolences
In an official statement, Lava International confirmed that some of those involved in the accident were its channel partners and members of its extended business network participating in the overseas trip.
The company said it is deeply saddened by the tragedy and is working closely with the Embassy of India in Vietnam and Vietnamese authorities to gather verified information about those affected.
Lava also stated that its teams in both India and Vietnam are in constant contact with the families of the victims and survivors, offering every possible form of assistance during the difficult period.
Investigation expected as authorities assess the tragedy
The fatal vietnam boat capsized accident has raised fresh concerns about tourist safety during recreational boat excursions in popular island destinations. While rescue operations have concluded, authorities are expected to continue investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident to establish exactly what caused the vessel to overturn so soon after leaving the shore.
As officials verify the identities of the victims and support continues for the injured and their families, the tragedy has become one of the deadliest incidents involving Indian tourists abroad in recent years, leaving communities in India and Vietnam mourning a devastating loss.