Approximately 25 individuals are believed to have perished following a school bus fire that erupted during a field excursion in Thailand.
This tragic event transpired on Tuesday at the fringes of Bangkok, the country’s capital.
The vehicle was transporting 44 individuals, including students and teachers, from the central Uthai Thani province to a school outing in the Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi regions, as mentioned by transport minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit during a press briefing at the location.
Pic: Reuters
Pic: Reuters
The passengers comprised pupils from elementary and junior high schools.
Interior minister Anutin Charnvirakul indicated that officials are currently unable to verify the death toll; however, considering the accounts from survivors, he suggested that 25 individuals are presumed deceased.
He noted that the driver managed to survive but had seemingly fled the scene and is currently untraceable.
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According to Thai media sources and rescue teams, the bus was en route to Nonthaburi when flames erupted around midday in Pathum Thani province, located to the north of the capital.
An emergency responder at the site informed the transport minister that the fire probably ignited after one of the tires burst, causing the bus to scrape against a road railing.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her sympathies in a message on X, stating that the government would cover medical expenses and provide compensation for the families affected.
The rescue organization Hongsakul Khlong Luang 21 reported on Facebook that they discovered at least 10 bodies within the bus while noting that a minimum of 19 individuals escaped the inferno.
