Bus Accident in Thailand Leaves 18 Dead
THAILAND – At least 18 people lost their lives, and 23 others were injured after a tour bus lost its brakes and overturned into a canal on Wednesday, February 26.
Colonel Sophon Phramaneehe explained that the accident occurred on a downhill road when the bus driver lost control due to brake failure. The passengers, mostly elderly individuals on a study trip, were among the casualties.
The bus was carrying 49 passengers, all of whom were Thai, including the driver. Images shared on social media showed rescue teams and medical workers at the crash site in Prachinburi province, about 155 kilometers east of Bangkok, assisting victims near the overturned vehicle.
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended condolences to the families of the victims and assured the public that authorities are investigating the accident.
“If it is found that there is a violation of the use of vehicles that do not meet the standards or are involved in reckless use of vehicles, legal action will be taken,” the Prime Minister stated in a post on X. He also stressed the importance of stricter vehicle inspections to prevent similar tragedies.
Thailand has long struggled with road safety, with frequent accidents attributed to poor enforcement of vehicle safety regulations and inadequate road conditions. A 2023 report from the World Health Organization ranked Thailand ninth among 175 countries with the highest road accident fatalities.
This tragic incident follows a similar accident on October 1, 2024, in Pathum Thani province, where a bus carrying students and teachers caught fire after crashing into a roadside barrier. The accident claimed 23 lives, including 20 students from preschool to middle school and three teachers. Reports indicated that a front tire burst, causing the driver to lose control and crash, igniting a fire beneath the vehicle. Of the 44 passengers onboard, 16 students and three teachers survived, while the remaining 23 perished.
Authorities continue to push for stricter safety measures to prevent such devastating accidents in the future.