A school bus carrying students and teachers on a field trip in a suburban area of Bangkok caught fire on Tuesday, October 1, resulting in the death of at least 23 people, according to official reports. The tragic incident took place in Pathum Thani province, a northern suburb of the capital city of Thailand.
The bus was transporting 45 passengers including 39 students from elementary and junior high school and six teachers from Uthai Thani province to Bangkok, as informed by acting police commissioner Kitrat Phanphet. The fire started around noon and was put out within sixty minutes.
Initial investigations indicate that the fire began after a tire blew out, causing sparks that ignited the bus that was powered by natural gas. The rescue operation was hindered by the intense heat inside the bus, which also risked causing more explosions.
Most of the bodies were discovered in the middle and back seats of the bus, which led rescuers to believe that the fire started at the front of the vehicle and passengers moved towards the back, stated Piyalak Thinkaew, a rescuer from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation.
Identification of all the victims is still underway by the authorities. Three teachers and 20 students are still unaccounted for, while 16 students received medical attention for minor injuries. Three girls, including one with severe burns to her face, mouth, and eyes, were initially admitted to the hospital.
The bus driver purportedly left the scene after the incident. The police are currently looking for the driver, and charges may be filed against the bus company for negligence if found culpable.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed sorrow over the incident and assured government aid for the victim’s families. The government has pledged to bear all medical costs and offer compensation to those impacted by the disaster.
The incident has led to criticism regarding the safety of student transportation for long distances in Thailand. The nation’s roads are infamously known for high rates of traffic accidents and fatalities. The World Health Organization estimates that roughly 20,000 individuals are killed and one million are injured in road accidents in Thailand each year.
Thailand’s Transport Minister, Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit, voiced concerns about the use of compressed natural gas in passenger vehicles, labeling it as “extremely risky.” He proposed that steps should be taken to prohibit such vehicles in the future.
The Institute of Forensic Medicine is tasked with identifying the victims through DNA analysis. At the same time, the Ministry of Public Health has deployed teams to provide psychological support to the families affected by the incident.
The authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the fire. They are analyzing tire marks, burn patterns, and security camera footage to establish the exact sequence of events that led to the tragedy.