Bangkok (People’s Daily) - A bus carrying 35 Chinese tourists crashed in south Thailand on Saturday morning, killing the Thai driver and injuring 17 Chinese tourists, including 3 seriously.

According to The Nation newspaper, the accident occurred on its way from Krabi to Phang Nga, two famous coastal cities in south Thailand, just after the bus left a hotel in Krabi. The impact shattered the utility pole, with the upper part in turn striking the front of the bus, ripping a hole across half the roof.

The initial investigation indicated that it might have been caused by driver fatigue.

Chinese consulate-general launched an emergency response, and offered assistance to the wounded Chinese tourists.

Deputy Consul-General Ma Cuihong visited the injured at the hospital. The Chinese embassy in Thailand has requested details of the accident from Thai tourism ministry and tourist police. The Governor of Phuket Province has also visited the wounded Chinese.