Fifteen people died on Saturday after a boat carrying Indian tourists capsized off Phu Quoc island in southern Vietnam, according to a Vietnamese state media outlet.

VN Express newspaper reported that a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized near Hon May Rut Ngoai island in Phu Quoc, killing 15 people while 21 others were rescued.

State media reported that the boat encountered unusual waves and winds early Saturday afternoon while it was about 400 meters from May Rut Ngoai Island, a small island south of Phu Quoc known for its coral reefs that attract divers.

Other tourist boats in the vicinity, along with coast guard personnel, rushed to the scene, but a large number of passengers were trapped inside the boat.

The victims were 13 men and two women, whose nationalities were not specified, and several people were taken to hospital in critical condition, according to AFP.

VN Express quoted a local Communist Party official as saying that the boat owner, Nguyen Tien Hai, and its operator held all the necessary permits to transport passengers.

Phu Quoc island, Vietnam's largest island, has experienced notable tourism growth in recent years, with its foreign visitor numbers exceeding 1.8 million in 2025.