Lorry smuggling Myanmar migrants crashes in Thailand, 14 hurt

Fourteen people were injured when a lorry, smuggling Myanmar migrants illegally into Thailand, lost control and tipped over in the western province of Kanchanaburi.

The incident, which occurred on Road 323 in Sangkhla Buri district shortly after midnight, saw the vehicle’s driver lose control while speeding down a hill and veer off a curve, subsequently fleeing the scene.

The lorry was carrying 29 passengers from Myanmar at the time of the accident. Fourteen of these passengers sustained injuries, with five in serious condition.

Through questioning, it was discovered that the individuals had crossed the border into Thailand yesterday, March 31, and were then picked up by the truck heading inland. The exact destination of the vehicle remains undisclosed.

The local police, led by Deputy Superintendent Decharit Pholkamol, announced that all passengers would be deported back to Myanmar. This incident comes amid heightened alertness from Thai border security authorities, who anticipate an influx of individuals from Myanmar seeking employment in Thailand due to ongoing civil unrest in their home country.

In related news, a recent surge in illegal immigration was witnessed in Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi, as 22 Myanmar nationals attempted to cross the border into Thailand on March 13. The Thong Pha Phum police, along with other authorities, responded swiftly to a tip-off about the unlawful activity.

Upon reaching the specified location, the officers discovered a vacant pickup truck parked close to a forest in the Tha Khanun subdistrict. The presence of footprints around the location indicated human activity. A thorough search of the area led to the discovery of a group of illegal Myanmar workers concealed within the forest.

In other news, to ease the journey home for migrant workers from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn announced yesterday that they will be exempted from re-entry fees if they wish to return to their home countries to celebrate Songkran between April 1 and May 15.

The decision, greenlit by the policy committee on the management of alien workers, aims to facilitate the annual tradition of Songkran celebrations for these workers and their families.