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

The vessel, carrying 36 people, overturned about 400 meters (440 yards) off May Rut Ngoai Islet, according to the VnExpress news website.

Tourist boats and coast guard vessels joined a rescue operation, pulling several survivors from the water.

The Tuoi Tre newspaper, citing local police, reported that 21 people were taken to a hospital for emergency treatment, two of them in critical condition.

All 15 of those killed were foreigners, according to Tuoi Tre.