Bus-train collision in Thailand kills 20

Rescue workers stand at the crash site where a train collided with a paseengers bus in Chacheongsao province in central Thailand

The bus to the Buddhist temple collided with a train in central Thailand on Sunday, killing at least 20 people dead and wounding 30, authorities said.

The accident occurred at 8:05 a.m. (0105 GMT) near Khlong Kwaeng Klan railway station 63 km (40 miles) east of Bangkok, said Maitree Tritilanon, governor of Chachoengsao province, where the accident occurred.

A tour bus carrying some 60 factory workers on their way to a Buddhist temple ceremony crossed the railroad track when a freight train hit the capital from the east of the country.

The bus was flipped on its side, and the top ripped off, with debris and metal scattered around the area of the accident, images from the rescue workers showed. The train was still on the rails.

Governor Maitree said the crossing has an alarm, but there is no barrier to block traffic when a train arrives. He said the province would install speed bumps and barriers as well as cut down trees near the crossing to improve visibility.

"Let this case be a lesson, and we'll make improvements at risky spots so that such accidents won't happen again," Maitree said in a statement.

Thailand's roads rank among the deadliest in the world, according to the World Health Organization. Despite security campaigns, there has been little improvement over the years.

Bus passengers traveled from the province of Samut Prakan to the Buddhist temple in Chachoengsao to celebrate the end of the Buddhist Lent.

Publish : 2020-10-11 11:50:00

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