Prachinburi: At least 18 people lost their lives, and 23 others sustained injuries after a tour bus overturned in eastern Thailand, police confirmed.
The accident occurred on a downhill stretch of road in Prachinburi province, approximately 155 kilometers (96 miles) from Bangkok. Authorities stated that the vehicle's brakes failed, causing the driver to lose control before the bus flipped over and landed upside down in a roadside ditch.
According to Colonel Sophon Phramaneehe, all 49 passengers, including the driver, were Thai nationals on a study trip. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, assisting victims and transporting around 20 injured individuals to nearby hospitals. Officials warned that several of the injured remained in critical condition.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended condolences to the victims' families and assured a thorough investigation into the incident. She emphasized the need for stricter vehicle safety checks, warning that legal action would be taken if violations were found.
Thailand has a high rate of road accidents, often attributed to lax enforcement of safety regulations and poorly maintained infrastructure. According to a 2023 World Health Organization report, the country ranked ninth in the world for road traffic fatalities.
This tragedy follows a deadly school bus fire last year, which killed 23 people, including 16 children, making it Thailand’s worst road accident in a decade.
