More than 30 passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals following the incident. Twenty-six remained hospitalised as of press time.

Two of them, Nual-laor Krajangsaeng and Poh Kudikhan, were in critical condition.

"The boat sank because most of the passengers tried to hide from the sunlight by gathering in one corner at the stern," the boat-owner Nopporn Kittithammakoon said.

One of the passengers, Manee Khantakarn, said she had heard someone shouting: "Go forward! Go forward" before the aft section was completely submerged.

"Then the whole boat overturned. I swam to the riverbank safely," the 57-year-old passenger said.

Manee was one of about 2,000 people gathering for an annual ceremony for a highly respected Muslim leader.

As part of the ceremony, 20 large boats and 40 smaller vessels were deployed to carry worshippers between two mosques in the former capital of Ayutthaya.

Deputy Interior Minister Banyat Jansena instructed Ayutthaya Governor Cherdphan na Songkhla to order an investigation into the incident following a report that the capsized boat had been operating without a proper licence.

However, the owner insisted that he had bought the boat legally in Bangkok and that it had a licence.

Nopporn also added that he would be ready to assist the victims because his boat was insured.

The Nation

Ayutthaya