Several dead in school bus fire – DW – 01/10/2024

A school bus caught fire in Bangkok, the Thai capital, and several people may have died, officials said Tuesday.

The bus was carrying 38 students and six teachers on a school trip from Wat Khao Phraya School in Uthai Thani province when a tire burst, causing the vehicle to crash into a barrier.

Government sources said 16 people were hospitalized and 25 were believed to have died.

A rescue worker told a local news channel that the accident happened around midday in a northern suburb of Bangkok. The accident ignited the fuel tanks, starting the fire, the worker added.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra offered his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.

“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased,” she said in a message on X.

She added that authorities were arriving at the scene and would cover medical and emergency costs.

25 people missing

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit told reporters the bus was traveling from the central province of Uthai Thani to Ayutthaya as part of a school trip.

“As far as we know, three teachers and 16 students are out. For those who are still missing, we don’t know clearly yet,” he told reporters.

Local media footage showed huge flames and plumes of smoke billowing from the bus before firefighters put out the blaze.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said the death toll could not be confirmed because authorities were still investigating the scene. He feared around 25 people were dead.

He said the driver survived, but fled the scene.

Rescue group Hongsakul Khlong Luang 21 said in a Facebook post that they found at least 10 bodies on the bus. The group added that at least 19 people had survived.

Thailand has poor road safety conditions. Obsolete vehicles and dangerous driving contribute to the high number of road accident deaths.

tg/nm (AFP, Reuters)