42 hurt as Thai boats collide

FORTY-TWO people were injured after two boats carrying Thai and foreign tourists collided in the Gulf of Thailand near an island famed for its wild parties, police said yesterday.

The boats were ferrying tourists to and from Pha-ngan island, site of “full moon” parties that attract thousands of tourists each month.

Police Lt Pongkajorn Sukrasang said the boats collided and overturned around midnight on Saturday, throwing the passengers into the rough sea during a rainstorm. One Irish person was a passenger. on the boat.