NEW DELHI: An Indian survivor of the tourist boat tragedy off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island has described how a “sudden storm” overturned the vessel within seconds, trapping passengers inside and leaving 15 Indian tourists dead. Speaking after the accident, Nirmal Kumar said rescue teams responded quickly but claimed inadequate medical facilities and supplies on the nearby island may have cost additional lives. Vietnamese authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.Nirmal Kumar, one of the survivors, said the speedboat carrying 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists, was travelling between islands when rough weather struck without warning.“When we were moving from one island to the next island, a sudden storm came…suddenly within a second, the boat was going upside down. We were on the front side and came out by jumping into the sea. Those who were inside got trapped, and since the boat was upside down, they were unable to come outside the boat. We were thirty-two on the boat, but in total, we had one hundred and five people,” he said.Kumar said local rescue teams reached the scene promptly, but the lack of adequate medical equipment and medicines at the nearby island hampered efforts to save more victims.“They rescued us, but some medical equipment was not available on that island. A doctor was travelling with us. He said that medicines are not available here, so we cannot save the lives…more lives could have been saved. Requisite aid wasn’t available at the island for the number of people needing it. The Vietnam Air Force came after two-three hours and they guided us, they treated us,” he said.He also said Indian authorities had extended assistance to those affected following the tragedy.“Yesterday they came, and they are doing their process. Everyone went back…we’re four people from the company, and I am staying here,” he added.The Indian Embassy in Vietnam confirmed that all 15 people who died in the accident were Indian nationals. In a post on X, the embassy said the mortal remains of the victims were being transported to Ho Chi Minh City, from where they would be flown to India after the completion of necessary formalities.The tourist speedboat was carrying 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists, when it capsized off the coast of Vietnam’s popular Phu Quoc Island. Authorities in Vietnam are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident.
