At least seven people have died after a speed boat packed with tourists capsized today as it headed to the Thai island of Koh Samui after an all-night beach party.
The sinking off Thailand's east coast came just a month
after thousands of tourists died in the Indian Ocean
tsunami along the country's western shoreline.
More than 20 people were reported missing - including three Swedes, two Hungarians, a Swiss, a German, an Austrian, and a Briton.
The boat was heading to Samui from jungle-clad Pa Ngan island, where thousands of backpackers and Thais gather at every full moon for an all-night beach party.
Of the four Western bodies recovered so far, Thai authorities identified one as an American man, the other as a male Briton. The other two - a man and a woman- have not been identified.
The police said three Thais were also killed in the accident, which may have been caused by overcrowding on the 40-seat, open-air motor boat, which was carrying up to 54 tourists.