Bus plunged into sea with 34 Chinese tourists

CHON BURI, June 7 (TNA) -- A bus with 34 Chinese tourists plunged into sea in Chon Buri province, no casualty was reported. Rescue workers of the Sawang Boriboonthammasathan foundation in Pattaya City, Chon Buri province, were informed of the accident on Pattaya-Na Kluea Soi 18 Road in Bang Lamung district at about 10.30pm. The damaged bus with the registration number 31-3866 Bangkok bore a sticker reading Serm Yon Tour lay in the sea about 50 meters from the road. Rescue workers saw 34 tourists and tour guides of Taimei Inter Co aboard. The passengers were apparently shocked. Many of them had been unconscious and rescue workers had to try hard to move them out of the vehicle. Its chauffeur Taweechokechai Plaengtaisong, 49, said that on his way to bring passengers to a seafood restaurant on the steep road, he tried to apply its brakes but to no avail. His attempt to change down its gears also failed. The bus hit a pickup truck on the roadside and then plunged into the beach. The vehicle lost its momentum when it reached the sea. Police took photos of the bus and noted details of the incident. They assumed the bus might have been overused or poorly maintained. (TNA)