At least 18 people lost their lives, and 23 others were injured in eastern Thailand on Wednesday when a tour bus’s brakes failed, causing it to roll upside down into a ditch, police reported.
According to Colonel Sophon Phramaneehe, the accident occurred on a downhill road when the driver lost control of the bus due to brake failure. The victims, all adults on a study trip, were among the 49 passengers, including the driver.
Rescue teams and medical workers rushed to the scene in Prachinburi province, 155 km (96 miles) east of Bangkok, where they assisted survivors near the overturned bus.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences and announced an investigation into the incident. She emphasized that legal action would be taken if the accident resulted from reckless driving or substandard vehicle maintenance.
Thailand has a high rate of road accidents, ranking ninth worldwide in road traffic deaths, according to the World Health Organization’s 2023 report. Just last year, 23 people, including 16 students, died when a school bus caught fire due to a gas cylinder leak.
