Fifteen people were rescued when their fishing boat struck rocks and sank off a Thai island.

The recreational anglers and crew were onboard the 'Net Waree' vessel when the boat slammed into rocks some 16 nautical miles off Koh Kut island in Trat province on January 24 afternoon.

The passengers were able to send a distress call to the local Royal Thai Navy base at 2:30 pm before their line went dead.

Two speedboats from the Koh Kut Tambon Administrative Organisation and one fishing boat rushed to the Net Waree's last known coordinates, but found no sign of the stricken boat.

Koh Kut mayor Dechathorn Chan-ob said he directed rescuers to follow the currents, and the team soon found all 15 casualties huddled together wearing life vests at 5:15 pm local time.

The survivors were safely taken back to land and transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.