Thailand: Bus crash claims 23 lives, injures 16 outside Bangkok

Tragedy struck outside Bangkok when a bus carrying school children crashed and caught fire, claiming the lives of 23 people, mostly children.

The bus was on its return journey to the Thai capital after a school trip to the north of the country. Eyewitnesses described the horrific scene, with flames engulfing the bus under an overpass and thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

According to Transport Minister Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit, the bus’s use of compressed natural gas posed an “extremely risky” factor, potentially contributing to the devastating outcome.

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The investigation revealed that a front tyre burst led to the bus crashing into the highway’s concrete barrier, quickly followed by an intense fire that trapped many passengers inside.

Nineteen children and three teachers survived the ordeal, with sixteen receiving hospital treatment for injuries. The recovery efforts were challenging due to the severe burns suffered by the victims, making identification difficult. Piyalak Thinkaew, leading the search, poignantly noted, “Some of the bodies we found were very, very small.”

Forensic police reported that among the 23 bodies found, eleven were male, seven were female, and five remained unidentifiable.

This heartbreaking incident has sparked concerns about the safety of passenger vehicles using compressed natural gas. Minister Suriyahe stressed the need for measures to ban such fuel types, citing the risks involved. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety in transportation.
“This is a very tragic incident,” Mr Suriyahe told reporters at the scene.

“The ministry must find a measure… if possible, for passenger vehicles like this to be banned from using this type of fuel because it’s extremely risky.”