At least 866 people were killed, nearly 1,200 missing and more than 7,200 injured following the tsunami on Sunday morning in southern Thailand, the Thai Interior Ministry said Monday.

The Thai navy has sent warships and helicopters to rescue people trapped on the isolated resort island of Phi Phi and searched for those reportedly missing.

Many of the dead and missing were foreign tourists spending their Christmas vacation in Thailand's southwestern coast that is famous for idyllic scenery.