Two more dead in tragic boat accident off Hoi An: Death toll is now 15

The capsized speedboat is turned over on February 27, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyen Dong

The death toll in an accident where a tourist motorboat capsized off Vietnam’s central coast Saturday has increased to fifteen.

VN Express reported that two more bodies were found in the sea early Sunday, authorities in Quang Nam Province’s Hoi An Town said.

The bodies have been identified as a 24-year-old woman and a 12-year-old boy. They will be handed over to their families soon, said Le Cong Sy, chairperson of Cua Dai Ward.

Around 2 p.m. Saturday, a speedboat operated by the Phuong Dong Company was carrying thirty-nine people from Hoi An’s Cham Islands to the shore when it was engulfed by large waves around three kilometers away from the Cua Dai Beach.

Thirty-six of the people on board were tourists and the remaining three were crew members.

Thirteen of thirty-four people brought to shore were confirmed dead Saturday.

The remaining five had been declared missing until two more bodies were found Sunday.

Everyone was wearing life jackets when the accident happened, officials have said.

Authorities have also confirmed that the vessel was carrying the right number of passengers and was not overloaded.

All fifteen victims are said to be tourists from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Sea areas from south-central Binh Dinh Province to the southern Ca Mau Province and other sea areas of the East Sea, known internationally as the South China Sea, have experienced high winds and rough seas for about a week.

The Cham Islands, about 18 km away from the Cua Dai Port in Hoi An, is a major tourist destination. It takes about 15 minutes to reach the islands from the shore using motorboats.

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