Six dead as Thai ferry capsizes

A tourist ferry capsized and sank near the popular Thai seaside town of Pattaya, killing six tourists, including two from Russia and one from China, police said. The rest of the 200 passengers onboard were rescued.

The double-decker ferry - carrying Thai and foreign tourists - left Lan island for the 30-minute trip to the resort town of Pattaya on Sunday evening.

Shortly after the boat departed, an engine problem sent the passengers on the first deck rushing to the second floor, causing the ferry to flip on its side and eventually sink, police said.

They added that the ferry was operating over its capacity of about 130 to 150 passengers and they were searching for the driver to investigate the cause of the accident.

At least six people - including three foreign tourists and three Thai nationals - were killed when a tourist ferry sunk off the Thai resort of Pattaya, Agence France-Presse has reported.