Deepshikha Maan, Jadetimes Staff
D. Maan is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia
Tragic Bus Fire in Thailand Claims 23 Lives, Including 20 Children
The bodies of 20 children and three teachers were recovered after a bus carrying school pupils crashed and caught fire near Bangkok. The bus was returning to the Thai capital following a school trip to the northern region of the country.
Eyewitness videos showed flames engulfing the bus under an overpass, with thick black smoke rising into the sky. The bus driver, who later surrendered to police about 100 km (61 miles) north of Bangkok, was initially seen trying to extinguish the fire but reportedly fled the scene soon after the accident.
Witnesses reported that the bus collided with a concrete barrier dividing the highway after a front tire burst, causing the vehicle to crash and ignite. The blaze spread rapidly, trapping many passengers inside. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown.
Survivors and Casualties
While 19 children and three teachers survived the crash, 16 of them were taken to the hospital for treatment. Thailand’s Transport Minister, Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit, expressed concern over the use of compressed natural gas, the fuel powering the bus, labeling it as "extremely risky." He indicated that the government may need to reassess the safety of such vehicles.
"This is a very tragic incident," Minister Suriyahe stated at the scene. "We must find a solution, and possibly ban the use of this type of fuel for passenger vehicles due to the danger it poses."
Identification of Victims
Piyalak Thinkaew, who led the recovery efforts, noted that identifying the bodies was challenging due to the severity of the burns. He explained that many of the victims were found at the back of the bus, indicating their desperate attempt to escape the flames.
Of the 23 bodies, forensic investigators identified 11 males and 7 females, while 5 remained unidentifiable. The exact ages of the children are unclear, though the school caters to students between the ages of 3 and 15.
Road Safety Concerns
Thailand is known for having one of the highest rates of road fatalities globally, with approximately 20,000 deaths annually due to poor road conditions, unsafe vehicles, and reckless driving.
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul announced that an investigation is underway, including analysis of tire marks, burn patterns, and footage from nearby security cameras to determine the exact sequence of events leading to the tragedy.
