The Eastern Voice correspondent

Vietnam. A festive corporate reward trip turned into a heartbreaking tragedy on Saturday when a tourist speedboat capsized off the coast of Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam, killing at least 15 Indian nationals.

The victims, mainly mobile phone distributors and dealers associated with the Indian company Lava International, were returning to An Thoi Port after an excursion. The speedboat was carrying 32 Indian passengers and four Vietnamese crew members when it suddenly overturned about 400 meters off Hon May Rut Ngoai Island after rough seas and strong waves hit the area.

Nearby boats and emergency coast guard teams quickly reached the spot and rescued 21 people. According to the Indian Embassy, the deceased include ten people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.

Most of the survivors have now been discharged from the hospital and are returning home. Emergency control rooms are helping the grieving families, while the bodies of the victims are being brought back to India. Vietnamese authorities have launched a full investigation into the incident.