1st LD Writethru: 3 tourists die, 1 still missing after speedboat capsizes near Koh Samui of Thailand

Three tourists are confirmed dead and one is still missing after a speedboat packed with foreign tourists capsized on its way back to the tourist island of Koh Samui in Southern Thailand on Thursday.

Two of the three victims are respectively from Britain and Germany, while a newly found female corpse remains to be confirmed whether she is the former reported missing Hong Kong tourist.

Local police are still looking for a missing British man.

The speedboat, packed with 32 tourists, a guide and three crewmen, capsized during its way back to Koh Samui after it was hit by strong waves.

Most people aboard were quickly rescued by another speedboat passing by while the remaining were picked up later by an official rescue boat, Bangkok Post reported.

The British and German female tourists died as they were trapped inside the capsized boat, while the Asian female body was found at about 11 a.m. local time.

Some passengers and crewmen sustained minor injuries, while three women and a man remained hospitalized Friday, Bangkok Post reported.

Chinese Consulate General in Songkhla told Xinhua that an injured Hong Kong tourist was sent back to hotel safely and they are heading to the scene to deal with the incident. Endit