A car carrying 15 migrants plunged into a canal, killing nine as six others fled in western Thailand.

The passengers were believed to have slipped through the Thai-Myanmar border in Ratchaburi province when the rear tyre of their car blew out near an irrigation canal, on the morning of December 3.

The group screamed as the packed Toyota SUV screeched across the road before launching headlong into the water.

Shocked villagers called the police and rescue teams upon seeing the submerged car with only the roof poking out of the surface.

A tow truck was later called in to haul the wrecked SUV from the canal. Its front windscreen was shattered and the left rear tyre had exploded. Inside the vehicle were nine lifeless migrants - eight men and one woman - piled on the seats.

Police Major Kacha Onlao of the Paktho Police Station said: 'All of the deceased were migrant workers, and a blue straw rope was tied to their right wrists as a symbol. Initially, officials took all the casualties to the Bangkok Institute of Forensic Medicine for autopsies.'

Citing locals, he added that six passengers survived and managed to swim to safety. Four were collected by a black pickup truck while the other two fled on foot.

Resident Santiparb Singto, 28, said: 'When I arrived, I saw the car going under and people swimming to the shore. I tried to ask if they needed help, but they couldn't speak Thai. Another Thai man told me there were still more people trapped inside. Then I saw them enter a black pickup truck and drive off, so I called the police.'

Investigators said they recovered a document showing that the SUV belonged to Thai owner Suthep Maikhong. It was unclear if he was present during the crash, which police believe was caused by overloading.

Authorities said they were tracking down Suthep and collecting CCTV footage from the area for investigation.