Vietnamese authorities have detained the captain of a tourist speedboat that overturned near Phu Quoc Island, leaving 15 Indian tourists dead. Officials said the captain is being investigated for alleged violations of inland waterway transport safety regulations as the probe into the accident continues.

The vessel, commanded by 57-year-old Nguyen Hong Hai, was carrying 32 Indian tourists along with four Vietnamese crew members when it capsized on Saturday afternoon. The incident occurred less than 500 metres from the shoreline shortly after the boat departed Hon May Rut Ngoai Island, a popular tourist destination near Phu Quoc.

The passengers were part of an incentive trip organised by Indian smartphone manufacturer Lava International for employees, distributors and business partners. The company confirmed that 15 people lost their lives, including 14 channel partners and one employee. The victims belonged to Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala.

The Indian Embassy in Hanoi said 16 survivors have been discharged from hospital and are expected to return to India, while one person continues to receive critical medical care. The bodies of the deceased are being taken to Ho Chi Minh City before being flown back to India after the required legal and administrative procedures are completed.

According to the embassy, the victims included ten people from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and said Indian diplomatic missions in Vietnam are coordinating closely with local authorities to provide all necessary assistance.

Survivors have described the terrifying moments leading up to the accident. Ashish Kumar, a distributor from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh who was part of the company trip, said the group had been divided into separate boats for island transfers. He recalled that the speedboat overturned unexpectedly while still close to the shore, forcing passengers into rough waters as they called for help.

A nearby boat operator, Ha Van Loc, told local media that he noticed the overturned vessel shortly after the accident. He said several passengers were clinging to the hull while others struggled in the sea. His team rescued four people using life buoys before alerting other boats and emergency responders.

Rescue operations involved multiple boats, but strong waves and rough sea conditions made the effort difficult. Jet skis were later deployed to transport survivors safely back to land.

Preliminary reports indicate passengers had been instructed to wear life jackets before departure. However, investigators believe that many were carrying the jackets instead of wearing them when the boat overturned. Some passengers who became trapped inside the vessel reportedly managed to escape through windows and the front section of the boat after it capsized.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the exact cause of the accident while examining whether safety protocols were properly followed before the vessel left the island.