• Source:JND

Vietnamese police have arrested the 57-year-old captain of a tourist speedboat that capsized near the country's popular Phu Quoc Island, killing 15 Indian tourists. Authorities said the captain was detained on Sunday for allegedly violating maritime safety regulations that led to the tragedy.

The accident happened on Saturday when the tour boat was in bad weather. Media reports quoted the tour operators as saying the sea had high waves that day but no rain. While other boats got by, the boat capsized, with what media reports quoted sources as saying was due to losing balance on waves that hit hard.

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According to Ha Wan Lok, a local who witnessed the scene, about a dozen persons were clinging to the bottom of the sunken boat while others were floating in the sea without life jackets.

Witnesses at the scene and operators on other boats immediately sprang into action, tossing lifebuoys attached to ropes to many stranded individuals while tugging some of them out of the water. Several were subsequently transported to land via jet ski.

Survivor Recalls The Tragedy 

Survivor Nirmal Kumar, hailing from Tamil Nadu's Palani, said the speedboat overturned within seconds, reportedly due to high waves and possible overloading. He said most passengers were from Tamil Nadu and that the two survivors remained in critical condition in hospital, PTI reported.

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Indian Embassy in Hanoi said on Sunday that all bodies of the 15 Indians who died in the incident have been taken to Ho Chi Minh City, from where they will be sent back to India.

Out of the 17 Indian nationals rescued, 16 are returning to India, with one tourist, critically injured, being treated at a Phu Quoc hospital, the embassy said.

Victims Linked To Lava Mobiles 

The deceased Indian tourists were linked to Lava Mobiles, the company confirmed. As per the company's statement, of the deceased, 14 were channel partners, including dealers and distributors, while one was a company employee. The trip was an incentive tour organised by Lava to reward its partners. 

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