ATHENS, Greece — A collision between a speedboat and a tourist vessel off the Saronic Gulf island of Aegina near the Greek capital Tuesday killed at least three people, including a child, and injured another four, the country's coast guard said.

The tourist boat was believed to have been carrying around 20 people from a seaside village on the southwestern tip of Aegina to a beach on the nearby islet of Moni at the time of the collision. It was unclear how many people were on the speedboat or what the nationalities were of those on the tourist boat.

A Coast guard officer and two men move on the dock parts of a tourist vessel in Aegina, southwest of Athens on Aug. 16. A speedboat collided with a tourist vessel off the Greek island of Aegina near Athens, killing four people, including a child, and injuring at least another four, the coast guard said. Yannis Liakos / InTime News via AP

Coast guard vessels and nearby private boats rescued at least 17 people, including the injured, the coast guard said. Three bodies were recovered from the water: two men, one of them believed to have been the tourist boat captain, and that of a 9-year-old child.

Two coast guard patrol boats and a helicopter were conducting a search and rescue operation, while private boats were assisting in the efforts.

Authorities said details of how the accident occurred were unclear as rescue efforts focused on locating survivors. The weather in the area was reported as good.

Aegina's proximity to the Greek capital makes it a popular destination for Greeks and foreign tourists. Small tourist boats ferry holiday-makers from the island's port village of Perdika to Moni, an islet inhabited by deer and peacocks, and which features a popular sandy cove.