Tour bus and train crash in Thailand, 20 people killed & 30 injured
Bus and truck crash in Thailand. © MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP
A bus bound for a Buddhist temple collided with a train in central Thailand on Sunday, killing at least 20 people and injuring 30 others. This was conveyed by the authorities.
The accident occurred at 8:05 a.m. near the Khlong Kwaeng Klan train station 63 kilometers east of Bangkok. This was conveyed by the Governor of Chachoengsao Province, Maitree Tritilanon, where the accident occurred.
A tour bus carrying 60 factory workers headed for a Buddhist ceremony at a temple was crossing the railroad when it was hit by a cargo train bound for the capital Bangkok from the east of the country.
The bus overturned and its top was crushed, with debris and metal scattered around the crash area, as images from rescue workers show. Meanwhile the train remains on the rails.
Governor Maitree said the crossing had an alarm but there were no barriers to block traffic as the train arrived. He said the province would install bumps and speed barriers and cut trees near the crossings to increase visibility.
"Let this case be a lesson, and we will make improvements in the places at risk so that accidents like that do not happen again," said Maitree in a statement, reported by Reuters, Sunday (11/10).
Roads in Thailand are among the deadliest in the world, according to WHO. There have been slight improvements despite years of safety campaigns.
Bus passengers were traveling from Samut Prakan province to a Buddhist temple in Chachoengsao for an award ceremony marking the end of Buddhist Lent.
Hari Ariyanti, Journalist