A devastating incident just outside Bangkok has left over 20 children feared dead after a school bus carrying primary students crashed and caught fire.
The bus, returning from a trip in Uthai Thani province, was transporting 41 passengers, including 16 children and three teachers who managed to escape the flames. Tragically, 22 children and three teachers remain unaccounted for, according to Thailand’s Transport Minister, Suriya Juangroongruangkit.
Rescue efforts faced significant challenges due to the intense heat from the fire, preventing investigators from fully examining the charred remains of the bus.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the vehicle completely engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the air as firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze. Eight survivors were hospitalized, many with severe injuries....Read Full Article [Click Here>]
Minister Juangroongruangkit emphasized the role of compressed natural gas in exacerbating the fire’s intensity, calling it “extremely risky” for passenger vehicles and urging a review of relevant safety regulations.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended her condolences to the victims’ families, assuring that “the government will cover medical costs and provide compensation for those who lost their lives.” The accident is believed to have resulted from a tyre blowout, leading to the bus colliding with a highway barrier.
