A tour bus carrying dozens of tourists, including British nationals, overturned in Thailand on Friday, injuring multiple passengers. Per DailyMail.com, the passengers were en route to Koh Samui, an island popularized by the TV series "The White Lotus," when the accident occurred in the afternoon.
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No Americans were reportedly involved in the crash.
Witnesses reported screams as the bus veered off the road and flipped onto a grassy verge. Paramedics arrived shortly after midday, discovering the coach on its side. Firefighters deployed cutting tools to free trapped passengers.
Dramatic video footage captured medics administering first aid to the injured while volunteers retrieved bags from the wreckage. Authorities confirmed 10 tourists required hospital treatment, with others receiving care at the scene.
Victims and Response
Among the injured was a 23-year-old British passenger, transported to Bangkok Hospital Surat Thani alongside the Thai driver, 38-year-old Theerawat Kohhem, and a 51-year-old Malaysian woman, Shanmail SharudaeDailyMail.com wrote. Uninjured passengers were escorted to Bang Sawan Police Station for support.
A police spokesperson detailed the itinerary: "The bus collected 40 tourists and three staff members from Ao Nang in Krabi Province. It was heading to the pier in Don Sak District, Surat Thani Province, bound for Koh Samui." The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Thailand's Road Safety Crisis
Thailand struggles with one of the world's highest road fatality rates. Government data pegs the current rate at 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people. Ministers aim to slash this to 12 per 100,000 by 2027. However, challenges persist. Experts cite inadequate road safety education, lenient driving tests, lax law enforcement, and underfunded infrastructure as key obstacles.
Recent incidents underscore the issue. On February 18, a tour bus crashed on a wet motorway in Nakhon Ratchasima, injuring 18. Two days later, another bus skidded on Phet Kasem Road in Phang Nga, hospitalizing 11, including a critically injured toddler. On March 22, a coach carrying Russian tourists overturned in Phuket, leaving dozens hurt.
The 'White Lotus Effect' Boosts Tourism
Koh Samui's tourism has surged since "The White Lotus" Season 3 premiered, drawing U.S. and European visitors. The Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, the show's fictional backdrop, reported a tenfold demand increase, according to Executive Vice President Marc Speichert. Dubbed the "White Lotus Effect," this trend previously lifted tourism in Hawaii and Sicily, the series' earlier filming locations.
Authorities continue to probe Friday's crash as Thailand grapples with balancing tourism growth and road safety improvements.
