10 Tamils among 15 dead after tourist boat capsizes in Vietnam

Chennai, July 11 (IANS): Fifteen people, including 10 tourists from Tamil Nadu, were killed after a tourist boat carrying Indian visitors capsized off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island on Saturday, turning what was meant to be a reward trip into a major tragedy.

According to preliminary reports, the boat was carrying around 32 Indian tourists, including 17 from Tamil Nadu and others from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Kerala when the accident occurred in waters south of Phu Quoc, a popular tourist destination in southern Vietnam.

The vessel reportedly overturned during the morning while cruising near the island.

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been officially disclosed, and local authorities have launched an investigation into the circumstances leading to the tragedy.

Rescue teams, local residents and emergency personnel rushed to the spot soon after the accident.

Several passengers were pulled from the water, while rescuers performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on those found unconscious in an effort to revive them.

Despite the emergency response, 15 people were confirmed dead after the boat capsized.

Rescue operations continued for several hours to account for all those on board. Among those killed was 44-year-old Murugaprabhu from Palani in Tamil Nadu's Dindigul district. His death has cast a pall of gloom over his hometown, where family members and friends gathered after receiving the tragic news.

Murugaprabhu and his colleague Nirmal Kumar were distributors for Lava International's mobile phone business in Palani.

According to family members, they had earned an incentive trip to Vietnam after achieving outstanding business performance.

The overseas tour had been organised by the company as a reward for its top-performing distributors.

What was expected to be a celebratory foreign vacation ended in tragedy when the tourist boat overturned during the excursion.

Officials from the Indian Embassy in Vietnam have reportedly contacted Murugaprabhu's family and told them that arrangements are being made to repatriate his body to India.

The Embassy is also coordinating with Vietnamese authorities and extending assistance to the families of the other Indian victims.

The identities of the remaining victims are expected to be officially released after local authorities complete the identification process and notify their families.

Indian diplomatic officials continue to monitor the situation and assist survivors and the relatives of those who lost their lives in the accident.