On Tuesday, October 1, a school bus carrying students and teachers on a field trip in suburban Bangkok, Thailand, caught fire, resulting in a minimum of 23 deaths, according to official reports. The incident happened in Pathum Thani province, a northern suburb of the capital of Thailand.
Acting police commissioner Kitrat Phanphet revealed that the bus was ferrying 45 individuals, comprising 39 students from elementary and junior high school and six teachers, from Uthai Thani province to Bangkok. The fire was reported close to noon and was put out within an hour.
Early investigations indicated that the fire began when a tire blew out, sending sparks flying that ignited the natural gas-powered vehicle. The intense heat inside the bus made rescue attempts challenging and increased the risk of further explosions.
Piyalak Thinkaew, a rescuer with the Ruam Katanyu Foundation, reported that the majority of the bodies were located in the middle and rear seats of the bus. This leads rescuers to speculate that the fire started at the front of the bus and passengers attempted to move towards the back.
Authorities were still in the process of identifying all the victims. Three teachers and 20 students were missing, while 16 students received treatment for minor injuries. Three girls, including one with severe burns to her face, mouth, and eyes, were admitted to the hospital.
Following the incident, the bus driver reportedly left the scene. The police are presently looking for the driver, and the bus company could face charges if it is found to be negligent.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra extended her condolences and assured government assistance for the families of the victims. The government has vowed to cover all medical costs and compensate those affected by the devastating incident.
This accident has resulted in criticism regarding the safety measures taken for long-distance student transportation in Thailand. The country’s roads are infamous for high rates of traffic accidents and fatalities. The World Health Organization estimates that each year, 20,000 people lose their lives and one million are injured in road accidents in Thailand.
Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit, Thailand’s Transport Minister, expressed apprehensions about the use of compressed natural gas in passenger vehicles, calling it “extremely risky.” He proposed that measures should be taken to prohibit such vehicles in the future.
The Institute of Forensic Medicine is conducting DNA analysis to identify the victims. Concurrently, the Ministry of Public Health has deployed teams to offer psychological support to the affected families.
Investigators later discovered that the bus, which had been adapted to operate on compressed natural gas (CNG), contained six gas cylinders that were lawfully installed at the rear. However, they also uncovered five additional cylinders that were unlawfully placed under the front of the bus.
The probe revealed that a pipe connected to one of the front cylinders broke upon impact, resulting in a gas leak that sparked the fire. It seems the trapped passengers also could not access the rear emergency exit, though the reason for this is still unknown.
In reaction to these findings, the government mandated inspections for all CNG-powered buses—over 13,000 in total—and suspended all long-distance school bus services.
