In a tragic incident in Thailand's Nakhon Ratchasima province, a double-decker bus carrying approximately 50 passengers veered off the road and collided with a tree, resulting in at least 18 fatalities and numerous injuries.
The accident occurred on Wednesday (26 February) as the bus was returning from a holiday trip, reports Wion News.
Authorities have indicated that brake failure may have been a contributing factor.
The ill-fated bus was transporting passengers back from a holiday excursion when the driver reportedly lost control while descending a hill.
The vehicle veered off the road, mounted a traffic island, and ultimately collided with a large tree, splitting the bus into two sections.
Emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene, where they found the bus severely damaged and multiple casualties.
Suthep Ruenthawil, chief of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation unit, confirmed that among the deceased were 12 women, six men, and a young boy.
Additionally, 28 individuals sustained injuries and were transported to nearby medical facilities for treatment.
Lieutenant Colonel Pornpattana Pisitkarn of the Udomsap police station stated that initial investigations point towards brake failure as a potential cause of the accident.
Thailand's roads are notorious for their high accident rates, with approximately 24,000 fatalities annually, according to the World Health Organization.
This incident underscores the pressing need for improved road safety measures and stricter vehicle maintenance protocols to prevent such devastating occurrences in the future.
