Hanoi: Sixteen Indian tourists who survived a boat accident off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island that claimed 15 lives have been discharged from the hospital and are on their way back to India, the Indian mission said on Sunday. One surviving tourist is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Vietnam.
Fifteen Indian tourists were killed when a speedboat they were travelling in capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai off Phu Quoc Island on Saturday.
The speedboat had 36 people on board — 32 Indian tourists and four local crew members.
Twenty-one people — 17 tourists and four crew members — were rescued. Two of the rescued tourists were in a critical condition.
"After receiving medical treatment, 15 survivors of yesterday's tragic boat accident have been discharged from hospital and are travelling back to India," the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said in a post on X on Sunday.
"Of the two patients in critical care, one has been discharged and is travelling back to India. The other is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Phu Quoc," it said.
The embassy added that teams from the mission and the Consulate General were present in Phu Quoc to provide all necessary assistance.
Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is a major tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping excursions. The tourists were reportedly returning from one such island visit when the accident occurred.
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh natives among 15 killed
Of the 15 victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. Two of the deceased were women, according to a list shared by the embassy.
The bodies of all the deceased tourists have been recovered.
The exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.
Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident and directed authorities to hold those responsible accountable, local media reported.
Andhra man in hospital; Naidu reviews relief measures
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday reviewed with officials the assistance being extended to the survivors of the Vietnam boat accident and directed them to make swift arrangements to bring the affected tourists back home.
"Officials have been instructed to expedite the return of the affected tourists and ensure they receive all necessary assistance," Naidu said in an official release.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that Gelle Kishore, who was injured in the accident, was undergoing treatment at a government hospital in Vietnam and that his condition was gradually improving.
They also said the Embassy of India in Vietnam had appointed an agency to facilitate the transportation of the mortal remains of those who died in the accident to their hometowns, adding that the process of handing over the bodies and transporting them had already begun.
Officials further informed Naidu that arrangements had been made to fly the tourists who survived the accident back to their hometowns on Sunday.
They said the flight tickets for the survivors had been arranged by the concerned mobile service provider. The mobile phone company had sponsored the trip for its business associates.
The Chief Minister directed Andhra Pradesh Bhavan officials to extend all necessary assistance until the affected persons returned safely to India and the transportation of the mortal remains of the deceased was completed.
Naidu also instructed officials to coordinate closely with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam regarding the repatriation process.
According to government sources, Kishore had been shifted from Phu Quoc Island to Ho Chi Minh City for advanced treatment and was responding positively.
They said 15 Telugu tourists had reached Phu Quoc Airport and were scheduled to travel to Hyderabad via Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines flight VN985.
Andhra Pradesh Bhavan was facilitating the travel of Kishore's family to Ho Chi Minh City, the sources said. They added that Sun Pharma was extending medical support.
