‘Better medical facilities could have saved more lives’: Indian survivor of Vietnam boat tragedy

An Indian tourist who survived the deadly boat accident near Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island has described the terrifying moments when a sudden storm capsized their vessel within seconds.

He also said better 'medical facilities' on the nearby island could have helped save more lives.

The speedboat, carrying 36 people, including 32 Indian tourists, overturned while travelling between islands near the popular tourist destination. The Indian Embassy in Vietnam has confirmed that all 15 victims were Indian nationals.

Recalling the incident, survivor Nirmal Kumar said the weather changed abruptly, leaving passengers with almost no time to react.

‘We were travelling from one island to another when a sudden storm hit. Within seconds, the boat flipped over. Those of us near the front managed to jump into the sea, but many passengers inside got trapped after the boat overturned and couldn't escape,’ he said.

Kumar appreciated the swift response of local rescue teams but felt the lack of adequate medical facilities on the island proved critical.

‘The rescue teams reached us quickly, but the island didn't have the medical equipment or medicines needed for such a large-scale emergency. A doctor travelling with us said more lives could have been saved if proper facilities had been available,’ he said.

He added that the Vietnam Air Force arrived a few hours later and helped with rescue and medical assistance. Kumar also said Indian officials had extended support to the survivors and were coordinating the necessary formalities.

Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, which occurred off the coast of Phu Quoc Island, one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.