BANGKOK -- A Thai driver has been killed and 17 Chinese tourists have been injured in a tour bus accident in southern Thai province of Phang Nga, according to the Chinese consulate general in Songkhla.

According to Thai media, a bus carrying 35 Chinese tourists heading from a hotel in Krabi Province to a port in Phang Nga crashed on a pole which hit the bus on Friday morning.

The Chinese consulate general in Songkhla said on Saturday that nine of the 17 injured were hospitalized. Among them, three suffered severe injuries, including two children.

Eight tourists who suffered minor injuries were under observation at the hospital. The remaining 18 tourists have gone back to their hotels.

It added that doctors performed surgeries on two severely injured children, and the adult will undergo surgery after further consultation.

None is in critical condition, confirmed the Chinese consulate general.

After the accident, Ma Cuihong, vice consul general of Phuket Consular Office of the Chinese consulate general in Songkhla, visited the injured at the hospital.

Initial investigation showed that the accident was caused by driver fatigue.

The Chinese embassy in Thailand has asked Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports and Tourist Police to investigate the case and to undertake practical measures to prevent such accidents from happening again.

The governor of Phuket Province has visited the injured at the hospital, while the Tourist Police and Tourist Rescue Center have offered assistance.

The Chinese embassy said they will keep following the case and help the injured tourists.