THAILAND: Twenty students and three teachers were killed when a fire engulfed their bus during a school field trip in Pathum Thani on Tuesday (1 Oct), according to Thai media.

Sixteen students and three teachers were sent to nearby hospitals, according to Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit.

The bus had been transporting students and teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam school in Uthai Thani to an exhibition in Nonthaburi when the accident occurred.

Of the injured, three students were admitted to PatRangsit Hospital for treatment of severe burns, and two of them required ventilator support.

The condition of these students remains critical. Local media reports have quoted medical professionals treating the victims, although further updates are awaited on their progress.

The bus driver, identified as Samarn Chankut, initially fled the scene after the accident.

Acting national police chief, Pol Lt Gen Kittirat Phunphet, stated that the driver’s phone had been switched off, making it difficult to locate him.

It was later revealed that Chankut had fled to Ang Thong province before surrendering to police on Tuesday evening. He is now in custody at Khu Khot police station in Pathum Thani.

Rescue workers reported that of the 38 students on board, 15 were primary school pupils and six were high schoolers, while the six kindergarten children on the bus survived.

The tragic fire left the community in shock, and authorities have vowed a full investigation.

Police officers from Khu Khot station were alerted around noon to a bus fire on an inbound lane between Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahon Yothin roads, near the Zeer Rangsit shopping centre.

Initial reports indicate that the bus’s front left tire blew out, causing the vehicle to lose control, crash into the median barrier, and catch fire.

Rescuers arriving at the scene noted how quickly the flames spread throughout the bus, with smoke and fire visible in images circulating on social media.

This bus was part of a three-bus convoy taking students on an educational field trip.

The group had visited Ayutthaya’s History Park earlier in the day and was en route to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in Nonthaburi.

The ill-fated bus was operated by Chinnaboot Tour, a company based in Sing Buri.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the families of the victims.

She assured the public that the government would cover medical expenses for the injured and provide financial aid to the families of the deceased.

According to the Prime Minister’s update , the insurance company will provide 1 million baht for each deceased victim, along with an additional 1 million baht from the Disaster Victim Fund under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, and other contributions, bringing the total to 2.4 million baht (approx. US$73,500)

ดิฉันทราบถึงเหตุการณ์ไฟไหม้รถบัสจากอุทัยธานี ที่โดยสารนักเรียนเข้ามาทัศนศึกษาในกรุงเทพฯ และเกิดอุบัติเหตุบริเวณถนนวิภาวดีรังสิต ซึ่งทำให้มีผู้เสียชีวิตและผู้บาดเจ็บ

ในฐานะแม่ ดิฉันขอแสดงความเสียใจอย่างสุดซึ้งต่อครอบครัวผู้บาดเจ็บและเสียชีวิต

ในฐานะรัฐบาล…

— Ing Shin (@ingshin) October 1, 2024

As investigations into the accident unfold, attention has turned to whether proper safety measures were in place.

Dr Thanapong Jinwong, head of the Center for Road Safety, questioned the presence and use of fire extinguishers on the bus.

He noted that the coach had two exits: one in the middle and one at the back.

However, the rear exit was reportedly too high for students to use, hindering their escape as the fire spread.

These concerns raise the possibility that the design of the bus may have contributed to the high death toll.

There are also unconfirmed reports that the gas-powered bus may have had a leak, leading to questions about its maintenance and safety standards.

Police and the Department of Land Transport are set to investigate whether the gas installation was part of the original design or a later modification, and whether it complied with current safety regulations.

The Prime Minister called for stricter enforcement of transport regulations, particularly for vehicles carrying children.

She highlighted the need for more rigorous vehicle inspections and driver fitness evaluations to prevent such incidents in the future.

A fire engulfed a bus carrying students and teachers on a school trip in Thailand on 1 October 2024, with up to 25 people feared dead.

The incident occurred when a bus, transporting 44 students and teachers from Wat Khao Phaya School in Uthai Thani province, suffered a crash that ignited a fire, according to local reports. The bus was heading to Ayutthaya, 80 kilometers north of Bangkok.

The Nation newspaper quoted rescuers who had recovered at least 10 charred remains from the wreckage of the bus.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit confirmed that 25 people were still unaccounted for, and the exact death toll was unclear.

Jungrungreangkit told reporters, “Initial reports said there are 44 on board: 38 students and six teachers. As far as we know now, three teachers and 16 students got out.”

The rescue efforts were ongoing, and authorities expressed uncertainty about those still missing. Early footage of the accident posted on social media depicted thick grey smoke billowing from the burning vehicle, with some parts of the bus still ablaze.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed the tragedy on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, expressing condolences to the families of the victims.

“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families,” she wrote, without giving further details on the incident.

ดิฉันทราบถึงเหตุการณ์ไฟไหม้รถบัสจากอุทัยธานี ที่โดยสารนักเรียนเข้ามาทัศนศึกษาในกรุงเทพฯ และเกิดอุบัติเหตุบริเวณถนนวิภาวดีรังสิต ซึ่งทำให้มีผู้เสียชีวิตและผู้บาดเจ็บ

ในฐานะแม่ ดิฉันขอแสดงความเสียใจอย่างสุดซึ้งต่อครอบครัวผู้บาดเจ็บและเสียชีวิต

ในฐานะรัฐบาล…

— Ing Shin (@ingshin) October 1, 2024

She also noted that the government will take care of the medical expenses and provide compensation to the families of the deceased.

The students and teachers involved were reportedly from Uthai Thani, located approximately 250 kilometers north of Bangkok.

The cause of the deadly blaze has been attributed to a front tyre blowout that caused the bus to swerve into a metal barrier, according to The Nation.

The impact of the crash led to an explosion, igniting the bus’s fuel tanks, which ran on compressed gas, further fueling the fire. A rescue worker cited by the newspaper indicated that the bus’s fuel source may have worsened the intensity and speed of the fire’s spread. It took about an hour for firefighters to extinguish the flames, despite their rapid response.

Netizens shared a photo of the bus’s compressed gas tanks, suggesting that the tanks had been modified.

The accident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised concerns about the safety of school transport vehicles, particularly those using compressed gas as fuel. The Thai government has not yet commented on whether any measures would be implemented in response to the accident.

The victims were en route to the historical city of Ayutthaya, a popular destination for school field trips due to its cultural and historical significance. Ayutthaya, once the capital of the Kingdom of Siam, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient temples and historical ruins. The tragic accident, however, cut short what was meant to be an educational experience for the young students and their teachers.

As recovery efforts continue, the full scale of the tragedy remains unknown, with authorities working to confirm the identities of the victims and provide answers to the families waiting for news of their loved ones.

Investigators are also assessing the safety standards of the bus company involved and the circumstances leading to the accident.

Thailand, which has a troubling road safety record, has seen several fatal accidents involving buses in recent years. This incident is expected to reignite calls for stricter enforcement of vehicle safety regulations, particularly for vehicles carrying school children.

The thoughts and prayers of the nation are with the victims and their families during this difficult time, as authorities continue their efforts to account for all passengers aboard the ill-fated bus.