A bus in Thailand fell off a bridge on Thursday, killing 29 passengers on board and leaving others severely injured, BBC News reported.
There were an estimated 33 to 40 people on the bus at the time of the fall off of Khun Pha Muang bridge. Of those who survived, many are reported to be wounded badly.
Police said the bus was travelling through the northern province of Phetchabun when it plunged. One person died at the hospital while the rest were found in a ravine.
"We believe the bus driver fell asleep," local police commander Sukit Samana said to the Agence France-Presse. "The eyewitness who informed the police said the bus went very fast before it plunged into the ravine."
The commander added more than 100 police officers, soldiers, and civilians aided in the rescue effort.
No foreigners were believed to be killed or injured in the accident, but Beijing's Xinhua news agency reported that two Chinese nationals were on board.
Transport Minister Chadchart Sitthipunt said the bus crashed through the safety barrier of the bridge.
"The accident may have been caused by a reckless driver as the bus was travelling at high speed going downhill and it crashed through the bridge railing before plunging into the 50- to 70-metre deep ravine," he said.
BBC reported that traffic accidents in Thailand are common. In July, a collision between a bus and a lorry killed 19 people.
Additionally, the World Health Organization said that the country has a "much higher" rate of accidents than most other countries in Southeast Asia, presumably a result from a lack of safety standards and busy roads.
