Vietnam boat capsize: Andhra CM expresses grief over death of three persons from state
Amravati, July 11
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday expressed profound grief over the tourist boat mishap in Vietnam in which three residents of the state lost their lives.
According to a release, a total of 33 people from the state travelled to Vietnam on a tour, of whom 19 were on board when the boat was involved in the accident. Three people lost their lives, while the remaining passengers were rescued. One person sustained serious injuries and is currently undergoing treatment.
Expressing sorrow over the loss of three lives in the boat mishap, the Chief Minister said the incident was deeply distressing. The Chief Minister reviewed the accident with officials and sought details on the relief measures being provided to the victims and the current condition of the tourists. He directed officials to take immediate steps to facilitate the safe return of those who survived the accident to Andhra Pradesh.
He also instructed officials to speak with the families of the three deceased and ensure necessary assistance is extended to them.
The Chief Minister directed officials at Andhra Pradesh Bhavan in New Delhi to coordinate closely with the Vietnamese authorities and the Indian embassy in Vietnam to provide all required support to the affected tourists and their families.
The families of at least 15 Indian nationals remain in mourning after their kin were killed in a boat capsize incident near Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam on Saturday.
The Embassy of India in Vietnam, in a list of the deceased, stated that 10 people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala died in the speedboat tragedy.
According to Arja Srikanth, Special Commissioner and Special Representative for the Andhra Pradesh Government at AP Bhavan in New Delhi, Vietnamese authorities earlier in the day confirmed 15 fatalities, including 13 men and two women, all Indian tourists. 21 people, including 17 passengers and four crew members, were rescued and admitted to hospitals, while two survivors remain in critical condition and are receiving intensive medical care.
According to VN Express, citing authorities in the Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, the speedboat, operated by Ocean Pear Island Company, was ferrying tourists from Hon May Rut Islet to An Thoi Port, around 25 kilometres from Phu Quoc Airport, when it overturned in the afternoon (local time), throwing all those on board into the sea.
According to the news report, nearby tourist boats rushed to the scene after spotting the capsized vessel.
A boat owner involved in the rescue operation said his vessel reached the site within about five minutes, but rescue efforts were hampered as several passengers were trapped inside the overturned speedboat, VN Express reported.
By Saturday late afternoon, rescuers had brought all 36 passengers ashore.21 people survived, while 15 others - comprising two women and 13 men - were confirmed dead, VN Express reported.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is so sad. 15 lives lost from Tamil Nadu, Andhra, and Kerala... it's a reminder of how fragile life is. I'm glad the Indian embassy and AP Bhavan are coordinating, but honestly, the speedboat safety standards in some tourist spots are questionable. Tourists need to be more cautious, but the operators have the primary duty. Praying for the survivors' recovery 🙏
A tragedy indeed, but let's also look at the response time - nearby boats reached within 5 minutes, yet many were trapped inside because the boat overturned so quickly. This shows that even quick rescue efforts can't always save everyone. Important lessons here for boat design and safety protocols. My deepest condolences to all the families.
Why tourism is becoming so risky? First Wayanad landslides, now this. I hope the state government doesn't just issue a statement and forget about these families. They need real support - financial help, psychological counseling for the survivors, and help bringing back the bodies. My heart goes out to those who lost loved ones. 😢
As a travel enthusiast, this scares me. 36 people on a speedboat in potentially rough waters... were there enough life jackets? Was the boat overloaded? We need answers from Vietnamese authorities and the tour operator. Meanwhile, kudos to CM Naidu for swift action and coordinating with the embassy. This is when leadership matters.
Such a tragic incident 😔. 13 men and 2 women dead... families back home in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, and Kerala must be devastated. I
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