According to a statement from the People's Committee of Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone (An Giang), at about 1 pm on July 11, 2026, the Ocean Pearl Island canoe with license plate AG-26751, belonging to Ocean Pearl Company, captained by Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai, born in 1969, carrying 32 Indian tourists along with 3 crew members and 1 Vietnamese tour guide moved from Hon May Rut Ngoai to An Thoi International Port.
After leaving the wharf about 400 meters, the canoe capsized due to big waves and strong winds.
Immediately upon receiving the news, the special zone government urgently intervened to handle it; mobilized all forces to search and rescue victims and quickly reported to competent authorities.
Implementing the direction of Party and State leaders, leaders of An Giang province, Phu Quoc Special Zone People's Committee has directed military forces, police, border guards, coast guard, navy, medical facilities and relevant agencies and units to continue to mobilize maximum forces and vehicles to survey the accident area; organize emergency care and treatment for victims; protect the scene.
At about 3:40 PM on the same day, rescue and relief work was completed, bringing 36 people ashore (21 people were rescued, but 15 unfortunately died, including 13 men and 2 women of Indian nationality).
In addition to overcoming the consequences of casualties, the authorities of An Giang province and Phu Quoc special zone request support and send their deepest condolences to the families of the victims. Local authorities are carefully handling the preservation of the victims' bodies at Phu Quoc Medical Center.
The government of An Giang province and Phu Quoc special zone are coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support the diplomatic mission to carry out citizen protection work. Vietnamese functional agencies will urgently investigate and clarify the cause of the incident and handle it in accordance with the law.
