15 Indian tourists killed in Vietnam

A speedboat carrying Indian tourists capsized off southern Vietnam's Phu Quoc island on Saturday, killing at least 15 people, state media reported.

The boat was carrying 36 people when it overturned around 400 metres off May Rut Ngoai islet, according to the VNExpress website.

Multiple tourist and coast guard boats participated in a rescue effort during which some people were plucked safely from the water.

The Tuoi Tre newspaper quoted local police as saying 21 people had been transported to a hospital for emergency treatment, two of whom were in critical condition. India's embassy in Vietnam confirmed the capsized boat had been carrying "several Indian tourists" but said that "exact details of the incident are being ascertained".

Nguyen Tien Hai, a provincial official of the ruling Communist Party, said authorities were still confirming the exact number of survivors, according to the state media report.

Hai said initial assessments suggested that the speedboat may have overturned due to heavy winds and high waves.