Eighteen people were killed after a tour bus lost control and fell into a ditch in Thailand's Prachinburi province, police said on Wednesday (February 26).

Social media posts showed rescue and medical workers at the scene, 155 km (96 miles) east of the capital Bangkok, helping victims near the overturned bus with its undercarriage exposed.

Reuters was able to verify the location as the road layout, structure of side rocks and streetlights match file imagery. The date is verified by local media reports.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the victims' families and said an investigation was taking place, particularly into vehicle safety.

Road accidents and fatalities are common in Thailand due to weak enforcement of vehicle safety standards and poorly maintained roads. The Southeast Asian nation ranked ninth out of 175 World Health Organization member countries for road traffic deaths, according to its 2023 report.