The captain of an overcrowded ferry that capsized while returning to Thailand’s tourist resort of Pattaya, leading to the deaths of six tourists, has told Thai police he was high on drugs.
The Bangkok Post reported that the 42-year-old skipper turned himself into police hours after his ferry capsized on Sunday night following a day trip to Koh Larn and while carrying about 200 Thai and foreign tourists.
A police chief said the captain confessed to officers that he took some drugs before going to work, and that he and the crew lost control of the vessel as a result.
He allegedly confessed the ferry wandered off course, and hit rocks.
Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation confirmed to the Bangkok Post that six people died – three tourists, including a Russian woman, and three Thais. Another 18 were treated for injuries.
Authorities were still trying to verify the identities of the foreigners.
The Marine Department will investigate the cause of the ferry’s capsizing, but an initial investigation suggested the deaths and injuries stemmed from overloading and insufficient safety equipment.
The double-decker ferry sank shortly after leaving Koh Larn with a full load of passengers heading for Pattaya.
The boat’s water pumps broke down, the vessel was flooded and the engine stopped functioning, he said.
The passengers panicked, claiming there were insufficient life jackets on board the ferry.
By Ian Jarrett and Diane Evans
