A devastating bus fire in Thailand has killed at least 23 people. Police reports also give a heartbreaking update that 20 of the victims are children, with 3 being teachers. 

Witnesses reported that a school bus crashed into a concrete barrier while traveling on a highway in a northern Bangkok suburb. According to police reports, the disaster is believed to have begun when one of the bus tires burst on the highway around 12:30 PM (0530 GMT). 

Also Read: Typhoon Julian Strengthens into Supertyphoon

Once the fire stopped, the search team made progress in recovering the bodies. They admitted that the bodies were so severely burned that they had a difficult time identifying them.

“Some of the bodies we rescued were very, very small. They must have been very young,” search leader Piyalak Thinkaew told reporters at the scene. 

“The kids’ instinct was to escape to the back so the bodies were there,” he added.

The bus was one of three carrying young students from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School. They are on a field trip to a science museum located in northern Bangkok. 

Video footage from the scene shows the colossal flames covering the entire bus, creating clouds of black smoke along the way.

Additionally, both reports and footage show the bus driver attempting to extinguish the fire but fleeing the scene. Thailand police force provided further updates that they’re looking for the bus driver.

Also Read: Fans Worries Over GOT7’s BamBam Amidst Death Posts

In related news, 19 children and 3 teachers have survived the Thailand bus fire incident. 16 of the survivors are currently receiving treatment in the hospital for their injuries. 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited them and stated that the government would cover the cost of medical treatment and compensate the victims’ families.

ดิฉันทราบถึงเหตุการณ์ไฟไหม้รถบัสจากอุทัยธานี ที่โดยสารนักเรียนเข้ามาทัศนศึกษาในกรุงเทพฯ และเกิดอุบัติเหตุบริเวณถนนวิภาวดีรังสิต ซึ่งทำให้มีผู้เสียชีวิตและผู้บาดเจ็บ

ในฐานะแม่ ดิฉันขอแสดงความเสียใจอย่างสุดซึ้งต่อครอบครัวผู้บาดเจ็บและเสียชีวิต

ในฐานะรัฐบาล…

— Ing Shin (@ingshin) October 1, 2024

“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased,” she wrote on Twitter/X.

News of the school bus fire in Thailand has garnered wide online attention. Many locals have even considered it to be the deadliest road accident to occur in Thailand in over a decade. Currently, the case is still ongoing.

Source: (1),(2),(3)

Keep Reading: Manila Court Convicts 10 Fratmen in Atio Castillo Hazing Case