A tragic accident in eastern Thailand has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 individuals and left 23 others injured after a tour bus overturned and plunged into a ditch. The incident occurred on Wednesday on a downhill road in Prachinburi province, approximately 155 kilometers (96 miles) east of Bangkok.
According to Colonel Sophon Phramanee of local police, the driver lost control of the vehicle after experiencing brake failure, causing the bus to flip over. The victims were primarily adults on a study trip. The bus was carrying 49 people, including the driver, all of whom were Thai nationals.
Images shared on social media showed rescue teams and medical personnel working at the scene, with the overturned bus’s undercarriage exposed as they assisted victims. Local authorities, including Somjai Phutthasena, reported that about 20 injured passengers were rushed to nearby hospitals, with some in critical condition.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that an investigation into the crash was underway. She stated that if any violations of vehicle standards or reckless driving were identified, legal action would be pursued. “Inspection of vehicles must be safe and pass the specified standards before they are put into use to prevent accidents and reduce losses like this again,” she added in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
Thailand has long struggled with road safety issues, with road traffic deaths being a significant concern. According to the World Health Organization’s 2023 report, Thailand ranks ninth out of 175 countries for road traffic fatalities. The country’s poor enforcement of vehicle safety standards and poorly maintained roads have contributed to frequent accidents.
This incident follows a series of other road tragedies in recent years. In 2022, a school bus fire caused by a gas cylinder leak claimed 23 lives, including 16 students, marking one of the deadliest road accidents in Thailand in over a decade.
