On January 1, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., a chartered tour bus carrying tourists from Samut Sakhon Province to Yala-Betong Province crashed into a tree on Asia Road 41 in Chaiya District, Surat Thani Province. The tragic accident resulted in six fatalities and numerous injuries.
The bus, identified by its yellow license plate number 30-107 Nakhon Pathom, lost control near Village 1, Pa We Subdistrict, opposite Donrak Resort. Among the 37 passengers, five were declared dead at the scene, with one more succumbing later. Rescue teams from the Surat Thani Kusonsattha Foundation and nearby areas transported 12 injured passengers to Chaiya Hospital and 18 to Tha Chang Hospital. Two uninjured individuals are currently providing statements to police at Chaiya Police Station.
The incident caused significant traffic congestion, stretching for several kilometers. Police and rescue volunteers worked to clear the scene and facilitate travel. Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, with initial reports suggesting that passengers were trapped inside the wreckage.
In attendance were local police and emergency responders, who continue to gather details about the circumstances leading to the fatal accident.
