The Vietnam boat tragedy sent shock waves across southern India after it emerged that all 15 tourists killed in the accident were from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. As families awaited more details from Vietnam, governments in the three states moved swiftly to coordinate with authorities, assist survivors and support the relatives of those who lost their loved ones.
An island-hopping tour through the turquoise waters of Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island turned into a nightmare on Saturday afternoon when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists capsized in rough seas, leaving at least 15 people dead and several others trapped inside the overturned vessel before they were rescued.
The speedboat overturned about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai while ferrying tourists from May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port on Phu Quoc Island at around 1 pm (local time), according to Vietnamese news outlet VNExpress.
SOUTH INDIA UNITED IN TRAGEDY
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay expressed grief over the loss of lives and said officials had been directed to coordinate with Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to provide assistance to affected families.
He also instructed officials to ensure medical support for the injured and facilitate the repatriation of the mortal remains of those who died.
Of the 15 people killed in the accident, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, according to state authorities. Among those who lost their lives were 44-year-old Murugaprabhu from Dindigul and 47-year-old Alaguraj from Kirapatti.
Three tourists from Andhra Pradesh were also killed in the tragedy. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said 19 tourists from the state were among those travelling on the ill-fated boat and directed officials to coordinate with authorities, provide assistance and make arrangements for bringing back survivors.
Among the victims from Andhra Pradesh were 41-year-old Ravi Teja from Hindupuram and Sridhar, a mobile shop owner from Kadapa. One tourist from Anantapur town who had travelled on the trip was reported to be safe.
In Kerala, Chief Minister VD Satheesan directed the Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) department to coordinate with the Vietnam Embassy and the Ministry of External Affairs after two residents of Kerala were reported dead in the accident. Officials at Kerala House were also asked to assist with the response.
The two victims were identified as AC Thomas (57) and his wife Loveni Thomas (56), residents of Kottarakkara in Kollam district.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy also expressed shock over reports of tourists from the Telugu states being affected and directed officials to coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam to expedite relief measures and gather more details.
ROUGH SEAS HAMPERED RESCUE
Meanwhile, rough seas initially hampered rescue operations, with several tourists trapped inside the overturned boat. Local eyewitnesses said the challenging conditions made it difficult for rescuers to reach those inside until authorities arrived.
Nearby boats rushed to the scene and began pulling survivors from the water. The rescue effort was later reinforced after the Border Guards deployed two vessels and 35 officers and soldiers, allowing the operation to gather pace.
Within a few hours, rescue teams located all 32 passengers. At least 15 people were confirmed dead, while the remaining tourists survived the accident.
The company operating the speedboat said the driver, in his mid-50s, had years of experience ferrying passengers on the route, even as authorities continued investigating the circumstances behind the deadly accident.
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