Many of the relatives were in shock and refused to talk to reporters, who crowded the hospital.

Photos of the dead, most of whom were burnt beyond recognition, were placed on the hospital's notice board. Relatives burst into tears and some fainted after looking at the pictures.

Twenty-nine passengers died after their Bangkok-bound bus caught fire and careered down a hill when its brakes failed.

Yupin Wongwanichjit, 30, who lost her mother Surin Sae Han, 59, in the accident said Surin was on her way back from Roi Et where she had gone to pick up her neice, Wilaiporn Kiewnamchum, 9, who was injured in the accident.

"Before going to Roi Et, she came to see me at Samut Sakhon," said Yupin. "I asked her to wait until the end of the month, then I would drive her to Roi Et, but she refused."

Yupin received a phone call informing her about the accident, but she was still optimistic that Surin might be safe. But when she reached Muek Lek Hospital, she found her mother had died.

According to Yupin, Wilaiporn recalled that she and Surin were woken by a loud noise and found out that the bus had caught fire. Surin told her niece to jump from the bus, but she herself couldn't escape in time.

Kaewpoon Wongsapon, 59, said six of her relatives were on the bus. One of them was confirmed dead while two survived. The other three were still unidentified.

The dead relative was her 29-year-old niece, who was travelling back to Bangkok after visiting her child in Maha Sarakham. Kaewpoon recognised the body of her niece from her rings and clothes.

Kaewpoon said before the accident, her surviving 14-year-old niece called her from the bus complaining that it had broken down and she was scared.

"I told her 'Don't be scared. There are many people on the bus, including your family. You'll get home okay.' But I never thought such an accident would happen," she said.

Kaewpoon came to claim the bodies of her family members at Siriraj Hospital together with about 20 other relatives.

Mayuree     Sukyingcharoenwong

The Nation