Seven dead, over 20 missing in Thai boat sinking

A speed boat packed with tourists heading to the Thai island of Koh Samui after an all-night beach party capsized yesterday, killing at least seven people, including several westerners, police said.

The accident off Thailand's east coast came just a month after thousands of foreign tourists died in the Indian Ocean tsunami along the country's western shoreline. It also comes just as Thailand tries to lure tourists back to its shores.

More than 20 were reported missing, including three Swedes, two Hungarians, a Swiss, a German, an Austrian and a Briton, marine police said.

The Hungarian foreign ministry said later there were no Hungarians missing or among the dead in the accident and the Norwegian foreign ministry said it believed none of its nationals were among the missing either, despite earlier reports.

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 alcohol and drug-fuelled beach party.

Of four dead westerners found floating in the Gulf of Thailand, 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 British embassy in Bangkok confirmed a UK citizen was among the dead. Other embassies declined comment. 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.