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.

At the accident scene (Source: thephuketnews.com)

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.

Ministry asks for verifying identity of victims in Thai road crash

Bodies of victims 

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry asked the Ministry of Public Security to verify identity of victims in a road accident in the Thai province of Kanchanaburi that left 10 migrant workers dead, including five Vietnamese.

After the accident occured on March 23, the Vietnamese embassy in Thailand contacted provincial authorities to take citizen protection measures.

It will will work with the host and Vietnamese agencies to bring bodies of victims home at the earliest.

The embassy also asked the transportation company to offer financial assistance to victims’ families.

The Foreign Ministry directed the embassy continue keeping track of the case.

Relevant information are available via the embassy’s hotline 66 89 896 6653 or Vietnam’s citizen protection hotline 84 981 84 84 84.

In its latest announcement, Thailand’s CPS company, which employed Vietnamese workers, said it will initially offer 200,000 THB (2,000 USD) to families of victims, then 700,000 THB depending on vehicle insurance.

According to the Thai media, the accident occurred in an intersection 150km west of Bangkok.

The surviving driver of the 16-seater van said the car was on way to Phunamron border gate, Myanmar when it was hit by a truck behind at an intersection without traffic light.

The van later plunged into a roadside canal after the crash.

About 100 search and rescue staff, drivers, public security and army forces were rushed to the scene to search for the victims.

All eight bodies were found, including a pregnant woman. Four others were sent to a nearby hospital.

VNA