Rowers had to be rescued when their boat sank during a race at a Buddhist festival in Thailand.

The 19 contestants were paddling along the muddy river for the Um Phra Dam Nam Festival but lost control as the vessel was steered off-course and then snapped in half because of the swift currents in Phetchabun province on October 15.

Footage shows rescue crews in life vests rushing toward the distressed oarsmen who were left drifting in the river during the competition. Several rowers had managed to swim toward the riverbanks, while others were pulled aboard on rescue boats.

The capsized wooden longtail boat was swept away toward a banana orchard around a mile away, where authorities were able to retrieve the wreckage.

There were no severe injuries or casualties reported, but organisers cancelled the rest of the event fearing a repeat of a similar accident in 2016, where two oarsmen drowned while training for a rowing competition.

The Um Phra Dam Nam Festival, also known as the 'Bathing of the Buddha Festival', is a traditional Thai Buddhist festival celebrated in Thailand. It involves the ritualistic bathing of Buddha images, usually statues or relics, as a way to pay homage to Buddha and ask for blessings.

However, the races take place during the monsoon rainy season which adds an extra danger as rivers are swollen and fast flowing from the torrents of water from running off from mountains, which causes levels to rise.