A speedboat carrying 20 passengers for a coral reef diving trip sank off the coast of Cham island after hitting a reef on the afternoon of July 20. Fortunately, all passengers were rescued in time.
At around 1 p.m., 38-year-old Lê Tiến Lên was piloting the speedboat with passengers heading for a coral diving tour near Hòn Tai, an island in the Cham island archipelago. The crew included 49-year-old deputy captain Trương Minh Dũng and 34-year-old sailor Nguyễn Long. During the trip, the speedboat collided with a reef, causing a breach that led to flooding and subsequent sinking.
The Cham island Border Guard Station mobilized officers and soldiers, using nearby vessels to participate in the rescue operation. “By around 2 p.m., the three crew members and 20 passengers were brought to shore safely,” reported Nguyễn Văn Sơn, Chairman of Hội An City.
The stricken speedboat belonged to Dũng Hiếu Tourism Services Co., Ltd., located in Cửa Đại Ward, Hội An City. It had been issued a registration certificate on April 25, 2019, and a technical safety certificate on January 24, 2024.
Authorities are currently coordinating the salvage of the speedboat and investigating the cause of the incident.
Previously, on February 26, 2022, the Phương Đông 05 speedboat carrying 39 passengers capsized while traveling from Cham island to Cửa Đại Port in Hội An City, resulting in 17 fatalities approximately 3 km from shore.
