At least 15 Indian tourists were killed after a boat carrying a group of visitors capsized in waters near Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam on Saturday.
According to local news outlet VnExpress, citing Vietnamese authorities, 21 people were rescued from the incident, while search and rescue operations remain ongoing to locate those still missing.
The boat was carrying a total of 36 people, comprising 32 Indian tourists, three crew members and one tour operator.
Vietnamese authorities said the vessel was travelling from Hon May Rut Island to An Thoi Port when it overturned about 400 metres off the coast.
Preliminary reports indicated that rough sea conditions and strong waves were among the factors believed to have contributed to the accident.
The Indian Embassy in Vietnam said it is closely monitoring the situation and has established emergency response centres in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to assist those affected and their families.
In a statement, the embassy described the incident as a tragedy and said the full details of the accident have yet to be confirmed as search and rescue efforts are still underway.
Vietnamese authorities continue to coordinate rescue operations, while the Indian Embassy said it will work closely with local officials to provide assistance to victims and their families during the ongoing emergency.
