School bus in Thailand going on field trip catches fire, 25 feared dead

A school bus in Thailand taking students and teachers on a field trip caught fire on Tuesday (Oct 1). Citing the government, a report by the news agency AFP said that 44 people- 38 students and six teachers- were onboard the bus. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said there were fatalities and offered condolences to the victims’ families.

According to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit, the number of deaths was not clear but 25 people were unaccounted for after the blaze.

“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. For those still missing, we are not clear yet,” Transport Minister Jungrungreangkit said. 

A report by the news agency Reuters said that the students and the teachers belonged to the Wat Khao Phraya School. 

A rescue worker told local media that the school bus was carrying students from Uthai Thani province when a tyre burst on a highway in a northern Bangkok suburb, sending the vehicle crashing into a barrier.

The rescue worker said that the bus was running on compressed gas and the crash ignited its fuel tanks.

Another rescue worker told the news agency that the blaze had been put out but rescue workers have had to wait for the bus to cool down before searching it for bodies.

Video footage from the scene showed flames engulfing the bus as it burned under an overpass.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Shinawatra condoled the loss of lives in the accident. “I have learned of the fire on a bus carrying students from Uthai Thani… resulting in deaths and injuries,” Shinawatra said.

“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased,” she added. 

The prime minister also said that the government would take care of the medical expenses and provide compensation to the families of the deceased.

(With inputs from agencies)