‘Brakes failed’: tour bus accident in Thailand leaves 18 dead, police say

Eighteen people were killed after a tour bus lost control and fell into a ditch in Thailand’s Prachinburi province, police said on Wednesday.

“It was a downhill road and the brakes failed, and the driver lost control of the vehicle before it overturned,” said Colonel Sophon Phramaneehe, adding that those who died were adults on a study trip.

Social media posts showed rescue and medical workers at the scene, 155km (96 miles) east of the capital Bangkok, helping victims near the overturned bus with its undercarriage exposed.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the victims’ families and said an investigation was taking place, particularly into vehicle safety.

“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,” she said in a post on X.

“Inspection of vehicles must be safe and pass the specified standards before they are put into use to prevent accidents and reduce losses like this again,” she said.