Cause of train-bus collision in Bangkok to be thoroughly investigated: Thai PM

Thai authorities will thoroughly investigate the cause of the train-bus collision in Bangkok and assist the injured, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Saturday night at the scene of the accident.

Anutin said that the accident was primarily triggered by the failure of relevant personnel to comply with safety regulations, and the top priority at present is to treat the injured, he said, adding that the government will provide compensation to the deceased and the injured in accordance with relevant policies.

The accident has caused eight deaths and 32 injuries, the Ministry of Transport of Thailand said in a statement. All the deceased were the people on the bus.

A rescuer at the scene said that the collision sparked a massive fire that led to casualties inside the bus.

"When I arrived at the scene of the accident, I saw a train and a bus collide. The resulting fire caused many people on the bus to be injured or killed. We have sent the injured to different hospitals for treatment based on the severity of their conditions," said the rescuer.

The accident occurred at around 15:40 on Saturday, when a train traveling from Chachoengsao Province to Bang Sue in Bangkok collided with a bus at a railway crossing in the center of Bangkok, triggering a fire accompanied by popping sounds. Several other cars and motorcycles were also involved.

Rescue teams have rushed to the scene to put out the fire and carry out rescue operations.

Cause of train-bus collision in Bangkok to be thoroughly investigated: Thai PM

A Canadian cruise passenger currently in isolation has tested presumptive positive for hantavirus, health authorities in Canada's British Columbia province announced Saturday.

Bonnie Henry, a provincial health officer, said the patient began developing mild symptoms, including fever and headache, two days ago and was taken to a local hospital. The presumptive positive result came back on Friday and the person is currently being treated in isolation as a positive patient.

The result still awaits final confirmation from a microbiology laboratory over the weekend, said Henry.

The patient is among 10 Canadians nationwide currently placed in isolation due to the cruise ship outbreak. Of the total, four are undergoing a 21-day monitored isolation in British Columbia, while the remaining six are isolated in Alberta, Ontario and Quebec. The presumptive positive case is one of the four isolated in British Columbia, while the partner has tested negative.

Henry emphasized that none of the individuals in isolation had come into contact with the public during their transfer, and all involved health-care workers wore full personal protective equipment. She reassured the public that the virus does not have "pandemic potential" and there is no need for widespread panic.

The outbreak occurred aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius and has caused three deaths so far. The incubation period for hantavirus generally ranges from one to eight weeks.

Canadian in isolation tests presumptive positive for hantavirus