Tragedy Strikes in Thailand: Tour Bus Accident Claims 18 Lives

A bus accident in eastern Thailand resulted in 18 fatalities and 23 injuries after the vehicle's brakes failed, causing it to overturn. The passengers were on a study trip, and an investigation is underway. Thailand has a high rate of road traffic deaths due to poor safety standards.

Eighteen lives were lost and 23 people sustained injuries in eastern Thailand when a tour bus crashed due to brake failure, police reported. The accident occurred on a downhill road, resulting in the bus overturning into a roadside ditch.

Colonel Sophon Phramaneehe, the lead investigator, stated that all 49 individuals on the bus, including the driver who remains unharmed, were Thai nationals on a study trip. The scene in Prachinburi province was chaotic, as social media posts highlighted the efforts of rescue workers assisting the victims.

In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences and assured an investigation would scrutinize any breaches in vehicle safety standards. With Thailand's high road traffic fatality rate, the call for stricter enforcement of vehicle inspections persists.

(With inputs from agencies.)