A fire engulfed a bus carrying students and teachers on a school trip in Thailand on 1 October 2024, with up to 25 people feared dead.
The incident occurred when a bus, transporting 44 students and teachers from Wat Khao Phaya School in Uthai Thani province, suffered a crash that ignited a fire, according to local reports. The bus was heading to Ayutthaya, 80 kilometers north of Bangkok.
The Nation newspaper quoted rescuers who had recovered at least 10 charred remains from the wreckage of the bus.
Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit confirmed that 25 people were still unaccounted for, and the exact death toll was unclear.
Jungrungreangkit told reporters, “Initial reports said there are 44 on board: 38 students and six teachers. As far as we know now, three teachers and 16 students got out.”
The rescue efforts were ongoing, and authorities expressed uncertainty about those still missing. Early footage of the accident posted on social media depicted thick grey smoke billowing from the burning vehicle, with some parts of the bus still ablaze.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra addressed the tragedy on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, expressing condolences to the families of the victims.
“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families,” she wrote, without giving further details on the incident.
ดิฉันทราบถึงเหตุการณ์ไฟไหม้รถบัสจากอุทัยธานี ที่โดยสารนักเรียนเข้ามาทัศนศึกษาในกรุงเทพฯ และเกิดอุบัติเหตุบริเวณถนนวิภาวดีรังสิต ซึ่งทำให้มีผู้เสียชีวิตและผู้บาดเจ็บ
ในฐานะแม่ ดิฉันขอแสดงความเสียใจอย่างสุดซึ้งต่อครอบครัวผู้บาดเจ็บและเสียชีวิต
ในฐานะรัฐบาล…
— Ing Shin (@ingshin) October 1, 2024
She also noted that the government will take care of the medical expenses and provide compensation to the families of the deceased.
The students and teachers involved were reportedly from Uthai Thani, located approximately 250 kilometers north of Bangkok.
The cause of the deadly blaze has been attributed to a front tyre blowout that caused the bus to swerve into a metal barrier, according to The Nation.
The impact of the crash led to an explosion, igniting the bus’s fuel tanks, which ran on compressed gas, further fueling the fire. A rescue worker cited by the newspaper indicated that the bus’s fuel source may have worsened the intensity and speed of the fire’s spread. It took about an hour for firefighters to extinguish the flames, despite their rapid response.
Netizens shared a photo of the bus’s compressed gas tanks, suggesting that the tanks had been modified.
The accident has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised concerns about the safety of school transport vehicles, particularly those using compressed gas as fuel. The Thai government has not yet commented on whether any measures would be implemented in response to the accident.
The victims were en route to the historical city of Ayutthaya, a popular destination for school field trips due to its cultural and historical significance. Ayutthaya, once the capital of the Kingdom of Siam, is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its ancient temples and historical ruins. The tragic accident, however, cut short what was meant to be an educational experience for the young students and their teachers.
As recovery efforts continue, the full scale of the tragedy remains unknown, with authorities working to confirm the identities of the victims and provide answers to the families waiting for news of their loved ones.
Investigators are also assessing the safety standards of the bus company involved and the circumstances leading to the accident.
Thailand, which has a troubling road safety record, has seen several fatal accidents involving buses in recent years. This incident is expected to reignite calls for stricter enforcement of vehicle safety regulations, particularly for vehicles carrying school children.
The thoughts and prayers of the nation are with the victims and their families during this difficult time, as authorities continue their efforts to account for all passengers aboard the ill-fated bus.
