According to Thailand bus fire news, the bus carrying 44 passengers including 38 students and six teachers, was on a school trip from Uthai Thani Province located in Thailand. The bus was en route to Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi provinces when the incident occurred. A tire burst on the bus leading to a crash against a road barrier in Pathum Thani province.
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The fire reportedly resulted in the deaths of up to 25 people, as per reports from the Thai authorities and rescue teams.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit indicated that out of the 44 people on board, 19 survived, while 25 people remain unaccounted for.
Among the survivors, three teachers and 16 students were able to escape, while the rest including three teachers and 20 students are still feared missing.
The bus driver reportedly survived but fled the scene and his whereabouts remain unknown as of the latest updates.
As of the latest Thailand bus fire news, a total of 44 passengers were on board the bus at the time of the crash including 38 students and 6 teachers. As per initial reports, 16 students and 3 teachers managed to escape the bus alive.
22 children and 3 teachers remain unaccounted for with authorities fearing they perished in the blaze. The bodies of the victims were so badly burned that identification is proving difficult for authorities.
Piyalak Thinkaew, a rescue worker at the scene confirmed that several of the bodies were extremely small. Eight of the survivors were hospitalized due to injuries including burns.
As of the latest Thailand bus fire news, Videos and images from the scene show the bus engulfed in flames with thick black smoke billowing into the sky. The fire is believed to have started after one of the bus’s tires burst causing the vehicle to lose control and collide with a roadside barrier, according to a rescue worker on the scene.
Rescuers and emergency personnel struggled to access the bus due to the intense heat and flames. They had to wait until the fire was completely extinguished and the bus had cooled down before entering the vehicle to search for the remaining passengers.
According to officials, the accident was caused by a tyre burst on the bus, which resulted in the vehicle crashing into a highway barrier.
The bus was powered by compressed natural gas, caught fire. The CNG fuel used to power the bus has been criticized as being extremely risky for passenger vehicles with Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit stating that the ministry will now review the use of such fuel in public transportation.
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As of the latest Thailand bus fire news, Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences to the families of the victims via a post on the social media platform X.
In her statement, she expressed her sorrow as a mother, acknowledging the loss of young lives. She also pledged that the government would cover medical expenses for the injured and provide compensation to the families of those who lost their lives.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit visited the site of the accident and confirmed the number of survivors. He addressed the investigation into the cause of the fire and assured the public that updates would be provided as rescuers and investigators complete their work at the scene.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also expressed his condolences and asked the public to remain patient while authorities investigate the cause of the tragedy.
He confirmed that the driver had fled the scene and authorities were actively searching for him to gather more information about the incident.
Thai authorities including the transport and interior ministries are investigating the precise cause of the fire. According to early reports from the scene, the fire was caused by a burst tire, which led to the bus scraping against a roadside barrier, damaging its compressed gas fuel tanks.
As of the latest Thailand bus fire news, Investigators are also looking into the bus’s maintenance history, safety protocols and the actions of the driver before and during the crash.
Three girls were admitted to Rangsit Hospital located near the scene of the accident. One of the young survivors sustained burns to the face, mouth and eye, and is receiving specialized treatment for her injuries.
Local hospitals are coordinating to treat survivors and the government has assured that all medical costs will be covered.
Thailand has struggled with a reputation for dangerous roads and poorly maintained vehicles. According to statistics, the country suffers from one of the worst road safety records in the world, with an estimated 20,000 traffic fatalities per year.
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