Police are today searching for the dead body of a woman seen floating in the sea near Thailand's notorious Death Island.

The bloated corpse was spotted by holidaymakers and a tour boat operator who were travelling from Koh Samui to Koh Tao island in Surat Thani province on May 4.

The still-unidentified woman - believed to be a tourist - was wearing a white bikini with her head was submerged in the water. Onlookers said that parts of her body already appeared to be swollen and discoloured.

Pictures taken by the ship's captain show the woman lying face down in the water. Her bikini top appeared to have become dislodged and her skin has a pale caucasian appearance.

Koh Samui Marine Police said they were informed of the discovery at around 1 PM and rushed to the location, but could not find the corpse which had seemingly been swept away by the currents.

They scoured the seas for more than one hour, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Phanthep O-me extending the search radius. Still, the tourist's remains could not be found.

There were also no missing persons reports from local police stations, local media reported.

Lieutenant Colonel Panthep said officers resumed the search on Friday morning but had not yet found the body.

He said: 'After being notified, the officers were mobilised together with rescuers to the location where the body was found. But despite the thorough search, the body was not found as the flowing sea currents had carried it away.

'We have asked local teams to check with hotels for any missing people. Local ferries and fishing boats have also been told and been ordered to monitor the sea.

'The boat captain thinks the woman was a tourist and we agreed when we saw the pictures. We are working hard to confirm this, but there are many hotels on islands in this area that they could have stayed at.'

Officers believe that ocean currents have pushed the body towards the island of Koh Samui, which is around 40 miles from Koh Tao.

The idyllic island of Koh Tao in the south of Thailand was dubbed 'Death Island' following a number of unexplained deaths and unsolved suspected murders.

British backpackers Hannah Witheridge and David Miller were allegedly bludgeoned to death on the beach by the son of a local official before he fled and police helped to cover up the crime. Two Burmese migrant workers were allegedly framed and jailed for life.

Dozens of other foreigners have been found dead in mysterious circumstances on the island, which is said to be controlled by crime families.