Two Australians have been injured when a speedboat capsized near the Thai island resort of Koh Samui in southern Thailand, killing three tourists.
The Australians, as yet unnamed, were on board the boat the Ang Thong Explorer with 30 other passengers and four crew, travelling from Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, when the vessel was struck by a large wave.
Three women from Great Britain, Germany and Hong Kong were killed while a British man remains missing, Thai police say.
The vessel was returning to Koh Samui around 5pm local time on Thursday when it capsized, plunging everyone into the sea.
Thirty people were quickly rescued by a passing speedboat while another search and rescue vessel recovered the others soon after.
Some passengers sustained minor injuries.
"The reason the speedboat capsized is because of bad weather conditions and because the boat was speeding," police Colonel Apichart Boonsriroj, commander of Surat Thani province where the crash happened, said.
One person had been charged with causing death and injuries, Apichart said.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that consular assistance was being provided to the two Australians.
No details of their injuries were released.
A DFAT spokesperson said the Australian embassy in Bangkok was "working closely with the authorities to confirm whether any other Australians may have been involved in the incident".
The boat was travelling at about 10 knots (18km an hour), according to its captain Sanan Seekakiaw, The Associated Press reported.
He said high waves crashed on to the bow and the impact overturned the boat. Sanan said he had asked all tourists to wear life vests but some had taken theirs off during the journey.
Four people remained in hospital on Friday out of the 28 who were brought for treatment, said Dr Theerasak Viriyanon.
DFAT warns on its website that ferry travel in Thailand can be dangerous as vessel passenger limits "are not always observed or sufficient life jackets provided.
"Australians have been killed and injured in ferry and boat accidents in coastal areas, including near [Koh] Samui Island."
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