Two foreign tourists were killed and 18 others injured when two speed boats collided near a private pier in Phuket province this morning (Monday).

According to initial reports, the accident took place at about 8.30am in the vicinity of a pier in Tambon Koh Kaew, Muang district, as a speed boat, carrying 20 foreign tourists, was leaving for Lanta Island just as another empty speed boat was approaching to pick up passengers.

The two boats collided head-on, throwing several passengers into the sea.  Many of the passengers were injured and two of them were pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.

The nationalities of the victims is not known at the time of this report.

The skippers of the boats have been held by district authorities for questioning.