Kalani Tharanga, JadeTimes Staff
D.W.G. Kalani Tharanga is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Political Blogs.
A devastating bus accident near Bangkok has resulted in the recovery of 20 children's bodies and three teachers after a vehicle carrying school pupils crashed and caught fire. The incident occurred while the bus was returning to the Thai capital from a school trip in northern Thailand. Eyewitness accounts and videos from the scene depict the bus engulfed in flames beneath an overpass, with thick plumes of black smoke rising into the sky.
Transport Minister Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit highlighted that the bus was powered by "extremely risky" compressed natural gas, raising concerns about the safety of such fuel in passenger vehicles. Reports indicate that the bus lost control after a front tire burst, crashing into the concrete barrier dividing the highway. This resulted in a rapid and intense fire that spread quickly, trapping many occupants inside. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, it has been confirmed that nineteen children and three teachers managed to survive, though sixteen of them are currently receiving medical treatment for their injuries.
Investigation and Road Safety Concerns
This tragic event has prompted a wave of grief and anger among the victims' families and the community. Distraught relatives visited the crash site, mourning the loss of their loved ones. The identification of the bodies has proven difficult due to the severe burns they suffered, with some of the deceased being very young children. Piyalak Thinkaew, who is leading the recovery efforts, reported that many children instinctively tried to escape towards the back of the bus, leading to a higher number of casualties in that area.
Authorities, including Thailand's Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, have vowed to track down the driver, who fled the scene following the accident. As part of the investigation, officials will analyze tire marks, burn patterns, and CCTV footage to piece together the events leading up to the tragedy. In light of the incident, Minister Suriyahe expressed the need for stricter safety measures, potentially including a ban on the use of compressed natural gas in passenger vehicles, which he deemed highly hazardous. This accident adds to Thailand's alarming road safety statistics, which see around 20,000 fatalities annually due to unsafe vehicles and poor driving practices. The government is under pressure to improve safety regulations to prevent such heartbreaking incidents in the future.
