A traffic accident in central Thailand on Sunday (11 October) left at least 20 people dead and 30 injured.

Apparently, a bus had been heading to a Buddhist temple when it collided with a train.

The bus was flipped on its side, and the top was ripped cleanly off.

According to Maitree Tritilanon, governor of Chachoengsao province, the accident transpired at 8:05 am (9:05 am in Singapore) near the Khlong Kwaeng Klan railway station.

A tour bus, which was carrying some 60 factory workers, had been on its way to a Buddhist ceremony in Chachoengsao.

While crossing a railway track, it was abruptly hit by a freight train that was headed to the capital from the east side.

As a result of the collision, the bus was overturned on its side and the top was ripped off.

Debris and metal also scattered around the area.

Governor Maitree said that the crossing does have an alarm, but there was no barrier to obstruct traffic whenever a train is approaching.

In the wake of the unfortunate event, the province will reportedly be setting up speed bumps and barriers, as well as clearing trees near the crossing to enhance visibility.

“Let this case be a lesson, and we will make improvements at risky spots so such accidents will not take place again,” Maitree said in a statement.

Thailand

As implied above, such deadly accidents are not uncommon over in Thailand, where speeding, drunk driving and subpar law enforcement are prevalent factors.

According to a 2018 report done by the World Health Organisation, the nation has the second-highest traffic mortality rate in the world.

While motorcyclists form a bulk of the victims, bus crashes revolving around tourists and migrant labourers are also common.

Back in March 2018, a bus carrying returning holidaymakers had driven off the road and crashed into a tree.

At least 18 people died, with dozens wounded.

And more recently, before this accident, two young men were killed after a motorcycle they were riding crashed into a roadside tree in Muang district.

The bodies were reported to have been found on the highway near the damaged vehicle, in an apparent state of mutilation.