Thai authorities defused a makeshift car bomb found near a police station on the popular tourist island of Phuket, an official said Monday.

The device was found on Sunday after the authorities searched a suspicious vehicle left in the car park of a police station on the island.

More than 100 people were rescued from a tourist ferry which began to sink in rough seas near the popular Thai resort island of Phuket, police said Wednesday.

The 114 passengers were picked up by a passing boat after the Phuket-bound ferry from Phi Phi island began to take on water on Tuesday and sent out a distress signal, according to the authorities.