"I want the bus company held responsible. My daughter was a good Mathayom-6 student about to take university-entrance exams to Chulalongkorn or Thammasat; now she is dead. I'll sue until I get justice," said Pisamai Thaophrom, 41, whose 19-year-old daughter Pilawan and nine-year-old nephew Sornram were killed.

Pisamai was among 200 relatives who crowded Siriraj Hospital yesterday morning to learn if their loved ones were among the fatalities.

Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry revealed one victim died yesterday from injuries taking the death toll to 30. Another 33 were injured in the accident and six of those are listed as critical and fighting for their lives. Ten have been discharged from hospital.

The state-owned inter-city bus operator Transport Co will "get tougher" on private companies. It will provide families of victims with Bt10,000 initial assistance.

It has suspended Sri Sanguan Yanyont from running buses for one week pending an investigation.

Others said they would sue, too.

Sura Chaimee, 36, lost her seven months' pregnant sister Pisamai Chaimee, 31, and aunt Boonyang Duangchompoo, 40.

"My sister was pregnant and travelling with our aunt to deliver honey to Saraburi. We talked on the phone and, when the bus reached Nakhon Ratchasima, she told me it kept having problems with its brakes and the driver had stopped often to fix it," she said.

Pisamai's younger brother Boontiam Chaimee, 29, said he would sue the company. "I want the Land Transport Department and those who checked the condition of the bus to be held responsible, too.

"If they hadn't been negligent this accident would not have happened," he said.

Urai Chasombat, 32, wept as she tried to identify her daughter, Manthana, 12, among the pictures of charred bodies at the hospital. "I don't know which body is my daughter; they are all unrecognisable." Her mother Pisamai Chasom-bat, 52, was critically injured.

"I'm very saddened by the accident. I lost the most loved people in my life and they did not do anything wrong but died because of others' carelessness. The bus company must take responsibility," Urai said.

Amporn Thumdee, 41, whose husband Boonhome Thumdee, 46 and his friend Samai Suwanrat, 46 died in the accident, said, "I'm in deep grief. I have three kids who are still studying to take care of. My husband was the sole breadwinner and I am just a housewife. I want those involved in the accident to take responsibility."

Naree Srinuan - whose relatives Thongdee Mahaphot, 45, Arthit Buriram, 8, Wittaya Buriram, 17, and Num Chansri, 15, died, while another, Withawat Moolrat, 14, was critically injured - demanded those responsible pay compensation.

Siriraj Hospital has employed the same formalities used in the 2004 tsunami to prevent mistakes. It has released seven bodies to relatives. Many require DNA matching because visual identification is impossible.

The Poh Teck Tung Foundation is arranging for the transport of bodies.

Public Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot told reporters victim Lamphun Jakkrapon, 40, was pronounced dead at noon yesterday.

Twenty-three victims remain hospitalised, including a 10-year-old girl with severe burns.

The ministry has provided social workers to assist relatives.

Calling the accident the worst in three months and blaming mechanical difficulties and driver error Prat encouraged public-transport drivers to be more responsible.

The Land Transport Department announced yesterday driver error was to blame.

Forensic police continue to inspect the scene and evidence to determine the cause.

Mayuree

Sukyingcharoenwong

Duangkamol

Sathirawattanakul

The Nation