Thailand Speedboat Collision Leaves Two Tourists Dead, Dozens Injured Near Popular Island Route

Phuket, Thailand— Two tourists were killed and at least a dozen others were hurt when two speedboats smashed into each other off the coast on Saturday afternoon. The collision happened in busy water near the Phi Phi islands, a corridor packed with tour boats during high season.

Officials said both boats were carrying foreign tourists to and from day trips. One was returning to Phuket with 32 passengers. The other was outbound. They met near a narrow channel between Koh Mai Thon and Koh Phi Phi. The impact tore the bow off one vessel and flipped passengers into the sea.

Rescue boats arrived within 15 minutes. The Marine Police, Thai Navy, and private tour operators pulled people from the water. Witnesses described screams, fuel in the water, and life jackets floating loose. Some passengers had no jackets on when they were hit. Others were trapped under benches.

"The sea was choppy but clear," said a Thai boat captain who helped in the rescue. "One boat came fast around the bend. Neither had time to turn. People were thrown everywhere." He said he pulled three injured tourists onto his deck.

Hospitals in Phuket Town confirmed two deaths. Both victims were foreign nationals. Their names were withheld pending embassy notification. Seven others suffered serious injuries, including broken bones and head wounds. Doctors said two were in surgery Saturday evening.

Tourism authorities said the skippers tested negative for alcohol in initial checks. Both are now held for questioning. Investigators will review GPS tracks, speed logs, and whether the boats were overcrowded. Early reports point to high speed in a no-wake zone.

The crash exposes a familiar problem. The Andaman coast runs on speedboat tourism. Hundreds of boats race the same routes daily. Rules exist, but enforcement is thin. Operators push tight schedules. In peak months, collisions, groundings, and propeller injuries spike.

France 24 and local outlets reported that safety checks were ordered at Chalong Pier tonight. All boats from the two companies involved were grounded. The governor called an emergency meeting with tour associations for Sunday.

Search operations closed at dusk. Officials said no one remains missing, but divers will check the site again at first light.