&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "‘We were screaming for help’: Witness recounts Vietnam boat barely left the shore before capsizing")
The boat carrying Indian nationals that capsized off southern Vietnam overturned after barely travelling 300-400 metres from the shore, a witness said, recounting the tragedy. The incident happened when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized on Saturday (Jul 11) while leaving Hon May Rut Ngoai island. The victims were part of a group trip organised for Lava International’s distributors, sellers and employees. At least 15 Indians were killed in the incident, according to Vietnamese media reports.
“The boat had gone barely 300 to 400 metres when it tipped over. We were taking pictures, and it happened before we could react,” Ashish Kumar, a 48-year-old distributor from Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur, told PTI. He witnessed the incident from another island.
He said that the tourists were divided into three groups to travel between islands as part of the company tour. While one boat had already left, the other two were still on Hon May Rut Ngoai taking photographs when the accident unfolded.
‘Screaming for help’
“The boat had hardly left the island. We were all screaming for help,” Kumar said. He added that the weather did not appear dangerous at the time of the accident.
“There was some wind but that is expected on an island,” he said, dismissing suggestions of rough weather.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
He stated that rescue teams reached the site of the incident quickly and brought survivors and victims back to shore. He claimed that medical personnel were not immediately available.
“The rescue teams got active and the bodies were brought back. However, there were no medical teams even to administer CPR. We are all in a state of shock,” he said.
Kumar said that several members of the group were travelling with their families. “A distributor friend I know was travelling with his wife. His wife has died, while he is fighting for his life in a hospital,” he said.
Lava International said it was “deeply saddened” by the tragedy and is coordinating with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam and local authorities while extending support to affected families. The group has since returned to its hotel.
“We are in constant touch with the Embassy of India in Vietnam and the local authorities to gather information about the safety and well-being of our people. Our immediate priority is to extend all possible support to those affected and their families,” the company said.
