15 Lava Mobiles staff killed in Vietnam tragedy, Hanoi orders probe

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hun has ordered a probe into the speedboat tragedy near Phu Quoc Island that claimed the lives of 15 Indian tourists. According to a statement issued by the Consulate General of Vietnam in Mumbai, PM Hun asked authorities to identify shortcomings, determine both the direct and indirect causes of the accident, and implement corrective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.  The Vietnamese Prime Minister also directed authorities to take strict legal action against anyone found to have violated regulations that may have caused the accident. Vietnamese Prime Minister also directed authorities to assist victims and their families.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday when the speedboat carrying 36 people, including 4 crew members, flipped after reportedly being hit by a sudden wave off Rut Ngoai Islet. While local authorities managed to rescue 21 people, 15 Indians, including 2 women, were dead. The Indian embassy in Vietnam released the list of the deceased provided by the Vietnamese authorities. Of the 15 deceased, 10 are from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh, and two from Kerala.

It is with profound grief that we share the list of 15 Indian nationals who have lost their lives in the tragic boat accident near Phuc Quoc Island today. The list has been recieved from the Vietnamese authorities.

Our prayers are with the families of the deceased.

The Embassy… pic.twitter.com/2fr2TjXuPp

— India in Vietnam (@AmbHanoi) July 11, 2026

The victims included 14 Lava channel partners and one member of the company's team, the smartphone maker confirmed in a statement. The group was part of an incentive tour for distributors, sellers and business associates from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. A company-sponsored reward trip organised by Lava Mobiles for its channel partners and employees ended in tragedy on Saturday in Vietnam.Lava Mobiles said it was "deeply saddened" by the tragedy and that its immediate priority was supporting the affected families. The company said it was working closely with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam and local authorities to ensure the earliest possible repatriation of the victims' mortal remains.
One survivor, Ashish Kumar, a Lava distributor from Andhra Pradesh's Guntur, said the tourists had been divided into batches for island-hopping excursions. The boat carrying 32 Indian tourists had travelled only a few hundred metres from Hon May Rut Ngoai island when it suddenly capsized around 1.30 pm local time. "We were taking pictures, and before we could react, the boat tipped over. We were all screaming for help," he said, adding that rescue teams reached the site quickly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu and several chief ministers expressed condolences over the tragedy. State governments in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala said they were coordinating with the Centre and Indian authorities in Vietnam to bring the bodies home and extend assistance to the bereaved families.