Bangkok (VNA) – Five Vietnamese workers were killed in a bus accident in Thailand on March 23 when a truck crashed into a 16-seat passenger car and both plunged into a canal in Tha Muang district, Kanchanaburi province.
According to local media, the deadly accident happened at around 12.20 p.m at Srasetthi intersection, about 150km west of Bangkok. At least 10 foreign workers were killed in the accident.
Around 100 rescue workers and police officers were rushed to the accident site. As of 1.40 p.m the same day, eight bodies had been recovered, including a pregnant woman. Meanwhile, four passengers were rescued and hospitalised.
According to the driver of the bus who has survived from the accident, the bus was carrying the migrant workers back from Phunamron border gate to get stamps on their passports while being crashed by a 10-wheel truck.
Local authorities are investigating into the accident.
The workers’ employer said that the company will pay 50,000 bath (about 1,500 USD) for initial fees. The firm will also support the repatriation of each victim with 150,000 bath (about 4,500 USD).
The Road Safety Risk Map for 2019 released by International SOS and Control Risks shows Thailand has the highest road death rate in Southeast Asia, followed by Vietnam.
Vietnam sent a record number of 140,000 guest workers abroad last year, an increase of 7 percent from a year ago.-VNA