Thailand: two Chinese killed in speedboat collision

Injured tourists are being taken to hospitals following the fatal collision (Source: bangkokpost.com)

Bangkok (VNA) - Two Chinese tourists were killed and 20 others injured in a speedboat crash near Koh Phi Phi island, one of southern Thailand ’s most popular tourism destinations.

Local police on June 8 said that a boat carrying 36 Chinese tourists including two children, collided with another boat carrying 26 passengers, of whom 22 were Chinese tourists. Both boats were heading towards Koh Phi Phi.

Deputy Commander of Phuket Marine Police Lieutenant Prasert Srikhunrat said aside from the two Chinese tourists who died, among the injured, three are in critical condition.

This incident happens less than two weeks after a tourist boat smashed into a reef in rough seas off Koh Samui island on May 26, killing four foreign tourists. The captain was charged with negligence.

And just three days before this latest incident, 28 people were injured in another marine accident, when a speedboat collided into a container ship off the island of Koh Samet, June 5.

Thailand is an attractive destination for foreign tourists. The kingdom welcomed nearly 30 million travellers in 2015.-VNA