Daijiworld Media Network – Hanoi

Hanoi, Jul 13: The mortal remains of the 15 Indian tourists who lost their lives in a speedboat accident off Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island will be repatriated to India later on Monday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said.

In a statement posted on social media, the embassy said the bodies would be flown from Ho Chi Minh City to Mumbai on Vietnam Airlines flight VN979.

The flight is scheduled to depart Ho Chi Minh City at 6 pm local time and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai at 9.35 pm IST.

The embassy said the respective state governments had been informed and requested to coordinate with the bereaved families for the onward transportation of the mortal remains to their native places.

Of the 15 victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three from Andhra Pradesh and two from Kerala. Two of those killed were women.

"The Embassy in Hanoi and the Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City pray for the family members of the deceased," the mission said.

The tragedy occurred on Friday when a speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four Vietnamese crew members capsized about 400 metres off Hon May Rut Ngoai island near Phu Quoc, killing 15 Indian tourists.

Sixteen passengers were rescued and have since returned to India after receiving medical treatment, while one survivor remains in critical condition at a hospital in Phu Quoc.

The tourists were reportedly returning from an island excursion when the speedboat overturned in the sea.

Vietnamese authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the accident.

According to Vietnamese news portal VN Express International, the operator of the speedboat was detained on Sunday as part of the investigation.

Phu Quoc, Vietnam's largest island, is a popular tourist destination renowned for its white sandy beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping excursions.