Eight soldiers were injured when an armour-plated jeep in which they were travelling plunged into a roadside ravine in Na Thawee district of Songkhla province today.
The soldiers were on their way to Sabayoi district, to reinforce security forces engaged in an exchange of gunfire with a group of southern insurgents, who were holed out in Ban Huai Tao of Sabayoi district.
An army source said that, as the driver was navigating the winding and mountainous road, the vehicle’s brakes failed, causing a loss of control and the plunge into the ravine.
All the eight injured soldiers were rushed to the Na Thawee District Hospital by EMTs, who arrived at the scene shortly after noon.
Before the accident, security forces had been sent to Ban Huai Tao this morning, after being alerted by local officials to the presence of insurgents in the village.
Security forces then surrounded the village. As they unsuccessfully tried to persuade the insurgents to surrender, the insurgents started a gun fight.
At the time of this report, the two sides were still at a standoff, punctuated by occasional gunfire. There are no reports of any casualties yet.
