A tour bus crashed into a tree early this morning (Sunday) near Konphapheng in Laos's Salavan Province, injuring over 40 passengers, including 13 Israeli tourists. The accident occurred when the vehicle lost control between Vientiane and Pakse, prompting a major emergency response across two countries.
Magnus Search & Rescue teams, along with insurance providers PassportCard and Migdal, immediately coordinated care while working with hospitals in both Laos and Thailand. Initial triage classified 13 patients as severe (red) cases and one as moderate (yellow).
"Given the severity of injuries, we decided to transfer patients to advanced medical facilities in Thailand," PassportCard CEO Ronit Segal said Sunday. The company maintains close contact with affected families.
Authorities in Thailand's Ubon Ratchathani Province dispatched ambulances to the Chongmek border checkpoint, while Sunpasitthiprasong Hospital prepared for emergency intake. An urgent call for blood donations was issued to handle the influx of patients.
The bus driver sustained severe injuries to his right side, while his wife, a 33-year-old Vietnamese woman, suffered a broken leg. According to a family member, the vehicle had only been in service for about five months before the crash.
Israel's Foreign Ministry, its Unit for Israelis Abroad, and the consulate in Laos continue working with local authorities as patients are transferred. By late afternoon, nine injured passengers had been moved to Thai hospitals, with more transfers pending.
This story is developing.
Channel 12 and Nation Thailand contributed to this article.
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