Six people were killed when the tourist ferry that they were riding capsized and sank near a popular tourist town in Thailand on Sunday.
The double-decker ferry capsized while on its 30-minute trip from Lan Island to the tourist and resort town of Pattaya, according to ABC News. Not long after the boat left the island, engine problems occurred, which caused passengers on the first deck to scramble to the second floor.
With all the passengers so high up, the ferry then flipped onto its side and began to sink.
The ferry was reportedly far above its capacity, which contributed to its sinking. It was carrying 200 passengers when the highest it should have been holding was 130-150 passengers.
"Witnesses said there were neither enough tubes nor life vests on the ferry. Some of those who cannot swim had to cling onto coolers or ice containers until rescuers came," police Col. Suwan Cheawnavinthavat said, reports the BBC.
Six people in total were killed in the accident. Out of the six, three of them were Thai, two were Russian tourists, and one was a Chinese tourist from Hong Kong.
At least fifteen others were injured, with at least five of them tourists. Among them was a 12-year-old boy from Russia, who was taken to a nearby hospital and was put in the intensive care unit.
Thai police are conducting an investigation into what exactly caused the ferry to sink and want to talk to the driver of the ferry for information.