In a devastating accident just north of Bangkok, over 20 children and three teachers lost their lives after a school bus caught fire following a crash. The bus, returning from a school trip to the northern region of the country, was engulfed in flames under an overpass, sending thick clouds of black smoke into the sky.
Witnesses reported that the bus struck a concrete barrier dividing the highway after a front tire burst, triggering the crash and an intense fire. The blaze rapidly consumed the bus, leaving many onboard trapped and unable to escape. Rescue workers confirmed that the bodies of 20 children and three teachers were recovered from the scene, with some so badly burned that identification was difficult.
“This is a very tragic incident,” said Transport Minister Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit, who visited the scene. He highlighted the risks posed by compressed natural gas (CNG), which powered the bus. “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.”
Of the 42 people aboard the bus, 19 children and three teachers survived. Sixteen are currently receiving treatment in hospitals for injuries. Forensic police confirmed that among the 23 bodies found, eleven were male, seven female, while five remain unidentifiable due to the severity of the burns.
Search leader Piyalak Thinkaew described the difficulty of the recovery efforts, noting the heartbreaking discovery of small bodies clustered toward the back of the bus, where the children had instinctively fled to escape the fire, which had begun at the front.
Thailand’s Interior Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, announced that authorities were searching for the bus driver, who fled the scene. “We are confident he will be tracked down,” he said. An investigation is underway, and authorities are examining tire marks, burn traces, and CCTV footage to determine the cause of the fire and the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The accident has reignited concerns over Thailand’s road safety record, which is among the worst in the world, with approximately 20,000 fatalities each year due to unsafe vehicles and poor driving conditions.
The ages of the children aboard the bus have yet to be confirmed, but the school caters to pupils between the ages of three and 15.
