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A bus runs out of fuel and strands passengers underground on Phuket

Tourist Bus Runs Out of Fuel in Phuket Underpass Emergency: Photo Special

Friday, April 17, 2015
PHUKET: The Central Festival traffic underpass on Phuket survived its first emergency unscathed last night when a tourist bus ran out of fuel inside the tunnel.

Critics have been warning of ''a below-ground disaster'' but the passengers on the bus managed to alight safely from the stopped bus inside the tunnel.

Officers from Vichit Police Station blocked off the underpass while emergency procedures went into operation about 11.30pm.

The driver of the bus told police he had run out of petrol. ''He will be charged with dangerous driving,'' an officer said.

The 600 million baht underpass was officially opened on April 6.

The skills of bus driver and the maintenance of tourist buses have been criticised, with Phuket authorities under-staffed and unable to check as many vehicles as they would like.

Phuket opted for underpasses because overpasses were considered too unsightly for a tourist island, and too much of a reminder of Bangkok and other cities.

Since the opening Phuket police have been stopping motorcyclists and warning them that they face a fine if they use the underpass. It's reserved for cars, buses and trucks.

Phuket's second underpass, about a kilometre down the bypass road in Phuket City at the Tesco Lotus intersection, is due to be completed in October and officially opened early in 2016.

More underpasses are planned for Chalong Circle in Phuket's south and the junction of the bypass road with Thepkasattri Road.

Comments

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Hahaha,funny. Says something of the bus drivers' professionalism. As a tourist visiting Phuket you have to be prepared for unexpected happenings.
Underpasses because overpasses are unsightly. That is humor. Actually a overpass besides Central Festival would have hidden a bit the ugly unsightly flat building high bill boards at that intersection.

Posted by Kurt on April 17, 2015 10:30

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Dangerous driving is a serious offence and can only be committed while a vehicle is being driven. Since the bus wasn't moving there cannot be any driving offence cam there. Running out of petrol isn't a traffic offence. How stupid are some people? Boggles the mind. Off to 7/11 to do my 90 day report.

Posted by gee on April 17, 2015 11:32

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When you look at underpasses like London's Heathrow there is a walkway raised above traffic lanes to the side presumably for people to evacuate and for emergency workers and general maintenance people to enter. Is there no such facility here. With one of the worst driving standard in the entire world it will not be long until there is a crash and fire etc there. How will people escape?

Posted by Welcome To Paradise on April 17, 2015 12:18

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@ gee
Driving into a tunnel with hardly any petrol is dangerous driving.

Posted by FS on April 17, 2015 13:33

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Doubtful it ran out of Petrol either.

Diesel maybe. Regardless of fuel, running out is pretty dumb for a public transport vehicle.

Posted by A local on April 17, 2015 16:22

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A bus driver who does not know when to fill his tank is not a bus driver. Disqualified and should be fired. Ah, by the way, I see motorbikes on the pictures. Are they not banned from using the tunnel? :)

Posted by Hajo on April 17, 2015 17:30

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@FS: Gee has already admitted to being stupid.

Posted by Smithy on April 17, 2015 17:52

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I too am a critic but they come thru with flying colours on this as a exercise so well done

Posted by slickmelb on April 17, 2015 18:26

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Driving with petrol in a Diesel engined bus is very silly, lucky he only had a little of it in there. Next time he should try diesel fuel.......

Posted by Discover Thainess on April 17, 2015 19:37

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just showes how far they think in the future.. god planning as well as for the sinking island....the doomed island

Posted by nicky on April 18, 2015 00:23


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