An Irish tourist is reported to be among 43 people injured when two boats carrying Thai and foreign tourists collided in the Gulf of Thailand on the way to a popular island beach party.
The speedboats crashed in Surat Thani, south of Bangkok, as they were ferrying tourists between Koh Pa Ngan and Koh Samui for a “full moon” party, a monthly event that attracts thousands of young, mostly Western tourists.
Two people are still missing.
A police spokesman said of the 43 revellers injured, 39 were hospitalised. Sixteen of those hurt were Thai, while others were Irish, Australian, British, Norwegian, Singaporean and Malaysian, he said.
There are nine people still in hospital.
The website of The Nation newspaper said the boats collided and overturned before midnight last night, throwing passengers into rough seas water just off the island.
It said two of the injured were in severe condition with serious head injuries.