A devastating bus accident outside Bangkok has left more than 20 children feared dead after their school bus crashed and erupted into flames. The bus was returning from a school trip in Uthai Thani province when a tyre blowout caused it to crash into a highway barrier.
Of the 41 passengers onboard, 16 children and three teachers managed to escape the burning vehicle. However, 22 children and three teachers remain missing, according to Thailand’s Transport Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit. Rescuers faced immense challenges due to the intensity of the fire, which has delayed a full investigation.
Photos from the scene reveal a bus engulfed in flames, with thick smoke rising as firefighters struggled to contain the blaze. Eight survivors were rushed to the hospital with severe injuries. Transport Minister Juangroongruangkit cited the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as a contributing factor to the fire’s ferocity, calling for a review of its use in passenger vehicles.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, expressed her condolences to the families of the victims, promising government support, including medical coverage and compensation. Rescue workers confirmed that the fire started at the front of the bus, trapping many passengers towards the back.
Thailand has a troubling road safety record, with approximately 20,000 fatalities per year. Authorities are actively searching for the driver, who fled the scene after the accident.
