THAILAND: Twenty students and three teachers were killed when a fire engulfed their bus during a school field trip in Pathum Thani on Tuesday (1 Oct), according to Thai media.
Sixteen students and three teachers were sent to nearby hospitals, according to Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit.
The bus had been transporting students and teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam school in Uthai Thani to an exhibition in Nonthaburi when the accident occurred.
Of the injured, three students were admitted to PatRangsit Hospital for treatment of severe burns, and two of them required ventilator support.
The condition of these students remains critical. Local media reports have quoted medical professionals treating the victims, although further updates are awaited on their progress.
The bus driver, identified as Samarn Chankut, initially fled the scene after the accident.
Acting national police chief, Pol Lt Gen Kittirat Phunphet, stated that the driver’s phone had been switched off, making it difficult to locate him.
It was later revealed that Chankut had fled to Ang Thong province before surrendering to police on Tuesday evening. He is now in custody at Khu Khot police station in Pathum Thani.
Rescue workers reported that of the 38 students on board, 15 were primary school pupils and six were high schoolers, while the six kindergarten children on the bus survived.
The tragic fire left the community in shock, and authorities have vowed a full investigation.
Police officers from Khu Khot station were alerted around noon to a bus fire on an inbound lane between Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahon Yothin roads, near the Zeer Rangsit shopping centre.
Initial reports indicate that the bus’s front left tire blew out, causing the vehicle to lose control, crash into the median barrier, and catch fire.
Rescuers arriving at the scene noted how quickly the flames spread throughout the bus, with smoke and fire visible in images circulating on social media.
This bus was part of a three-bus convoy taking students on an educational field trip.
The group had visited Ayutthaya’s History Park earlier in the day and was en route to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand in Nonthaburi.
The ill-fated bus was operated by Chinnaboot Tour, a company based in Sing Buri.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the families of the victims.
She assured the public that the government would cover medical expenses for the injured and provide financial aid to the families of the deceased.
According to the Prime Minister’s update , the insurance company will provide 1 million baht for each deceased victim, along with an additional 1 million baht from the Disaster Victim Fund under the Office of the Permanent Secretary, and other contributions, bringing the total to 2.4 million baht (approx. US$73,500)
ดิฉันทราบถึงเหตุการณ์ไฟไหม้รถบัสจากอุทัยธานี ที่โดยสารนักเรียนเข้ามาทัศนศึกษาในกรุงเทพฯ และเกิดอุบัติเหตุบริเวณถนนวิภาวดีรังสิต ซึ่งทำให้มีผู้เสียชีวิตและผู้บาดเจ็บ
ในฐานะแม่ ดิฉันขอแสดงความเสียใจอย่างสุดซึ้งต่อครอบครัวผู้บาดเจ็บและเสียชีวิต
ในฐานะรัฐบาล…
— Ing Shin (@ingshin) October 1, 2024
As investigations into the accident unfold, attention has turned to whether proper safety measures were in place.
Dr Thanapong Jinwong, head of the Center for Road Safety, questioned the presence and use of fire extinguishers on the bus.
He noted that the coach had two exits: one in the middle and one at the back.
However, the rear exit was reportedly too high for students to use, hindering their escape as the fire spread.
These concerns raise the possibility that the design of the bus may have contributed to the high death toll.
There are also unconfirmed reports that the gas-powered bus may have had a leak, leading to questions about its maintenance and safety standards.
Police and the Department of Land Transport are set to investigate whether the gas installation was part of the original design or a later modification, and whether it complied with current safety regulations.
The Prime Minister called for stricter enforcement of transport regulations, particularly for vehicles carrying children.
She highlighted the need for more rigorous vehicle inspections and driver fitness evaluations to prevent such incidents in the future.
