A speedboat carrying tourists capsized when it was struck by high waves off a Thai island on Sunday.

The boat battled through strong winds while it was travelling off the Lao Lading island in Than Bok Khorani National Park in Krabi province at around 10 am on February 11.

The seven passengers and the boat operator were thrown overboard and floated some 300 metres off Hong island while waiting for rescuers to arrive.

Passing tour boat Phuket Narayana Marine responded to the emergency and rescued the tourists.

Thanwisit Wongsuwan, 61, one of the crew from the Phuket Narayana Marine, said all eight distressed individuals were wearing life vests and were safely pulled onboard.

He said: 'We were bringing tourists from Phuket to Lao Lading island when I noticed something floating in the distance. We approached and took a closer look, and were shocked to find the tourists floating in the sea.

'Their boat had capsized, so we rushed over to help them. Thankfully none of them were seriously harmed.'

Mana Muanwan, director of the Marine Office in Krabi, said the owner of the capsized boat was a Thai Navy soldier who had been taking friends and relatives on a pleasure trip.

He said: 'They encountered strong waves that caused their boat to sink. We will be summoning the boat driver to provide an explanation.'

Meanwhile, red flags were installed at the Hat Noppharat Tara Mo Ko Phi-Phi National to warn tourists not to swim in the sea due to the rough weather.