Tourist bus plunges into ravine in Phuket, injuring nine
In Phuket, officials are investigating a tourist bus accident in Kata that resulted in the vehicle falling into a 15-metre-deep ravine, injuring nine people. The incident took place yesterday, February 1, around 1.15pm near the Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort, located south of Patong.
Emergency rescue teams from the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation and Karon Municipality, along with local police, arrived promptly at the scene. The bus, operated by OS Tour, was carrying tourists when the driver lost control, hit a roadside barrier, and veered off the road. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.
Among the injured are four tourists from China, two from Russia, one from Germany, a Thai woman, and the driver, 49 year old Wira Ritthijom. They were transported to Patong Hospital where most received treatment for minor injuries, reported The Phuket News.
Karon Police Chief Police Colonel Khundet Na Nongkhai mentioned that initial reports indicate the bus may have lost control due to slippery road conditions. Investigators are examining the scene to determine the exact cause of the accident.
In similar news, on January 26, a tourist bus accident in Salavan province, Laos, left 25 foreign tourists injured. The governor of Ubon Ratchathani assured that no Thai nationals were involved, and emergency services were dispatched to the Chong Mek border to assist the injured.
Adisak Noisuwan, the governor of Ubon Ratchathani, along with more than 20 volunteers, donated blood at Sappasitthiprasong Hospital in Mueang district to support the injured tourists. The accident occurred in Khong city, Salavan province, involving a sightseeing bus, resulting in serious injuries for 11 people and moderate injuries for three.
Initially, four of the injured were transferred to Thailand for treatment through the Chong Mek checkpoint in Sirindhorn district. These tourists, covered by travel insurance, sought treatment at private hospitals in Thailand.
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