A holiday outing turned to tragedy off Vietnam's largest island on Saturday, when a speedboat carrying Indian tourists overturned in the sea.
What happened
The vessel capsized near Phu Quoc island, in Vietnam's southern Kien Giang province, killing at least 15 people, all Indian nationals, Al Jazeera reported. The boat was carrying a group of tourists along with crew when it went over, and rescuers and nearby boats rushed to pull people from the water. Roughly three dozen people had been aboard, and about 21 were rescued, Vietnam's VnExpress reported. As with any disaster still under review, officials cautioned the toll could change.
The cause
Authorities had not determined a definitive cause by Saturday. Early accounts pointed to a possible mechanical problem with the boat, and sea conditions in the area may have played a role, VnExpress reported. Vietnamese officials ordered an investigation into the accident and said those responsible would be held to account. Questions were already being raised about safety standards for the speedboats that ferry tourists around the island.
The response
India moved quickly to assist. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences to the families of the victims and pledged support, and Indian diplomatic missions in Vietnam worked with local authorities to help relatives and arrange for the identification and return of the dead, Al Jazeera reported. Phu Quoc, a fast-growing beach destination in the Gulf of Thailand, draws large numbers of international visitors, and boat excursions to its surrounding islets are a staple of the trip.
A pattern of risk
The disaster is a grim reminder of the dangers that can accompany the region's booming coastal tourism, where crowded tour boats, uneven safety enforcement and sudden weather can combine with deadly results. For now, the focus is on the families of the 15 who set out on a day trip and did not come back, and on an investigation into how a routine excursion ended in the water.
