A tragic accident rocked Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, on Tuesday (October 1), when a school bus carrying students and teachers caught fire, resulting in the death of more than 20 people. In addition to the fatalities, 16 other people, including students and teachers, were taken to hospital with serious injuries. The disaster has raised deep concerns about the safety of school transport in the country and sparked discussions about preventive measures that could prevent similar tragedies in the future

The bus involved in the accident was carrying students from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani province, along with six teachers. The group was on a school trip that included visits to Ayutthaya Historical Park and the Electricity Generating Authority Learning Center in Nonthaburi. However, what should have been a day of learning and fun quickly turned into a horror scene after the bus crashed into a metal barrier, resulting in the fire that claimed so many lives.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the accident began with a tire burst on the bus, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle. The bus crashed violently into a metal barrier, creating sparks that quickly reached the gas tank, resulting in a devastating fire. The flames spread throughout the vehicle within minutes, leaving the passengers in a panic and with few options for escape. Unfortunately, many of the occupants, especially children, were unable to escape in time.

The details surrounding the fire are harrowing. According to reports, in their desperate attempt to escape, several children ran to the back of the bus, hoping to find a way out. However, the fire spread quickly, blocking any attempt at rescue. Many of the students did not survive, making the tragedy even more painful for their families and the school community. The devastating incident prompted emergency crews to immediately mobilize, who worked tirelessly to control the fire and rescue survivors.

Following the accident, the Thai government has promised to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident. Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said that a thorough analysis will be carried out to identify flaws in the school transport system and implement measures that can prevent future tragedies. He stressed that, in addition to the tire blowout and the sparks, other factors will be considered in the investigation, such as the condition of the vehicle and the response of the driver and the school’s safety protocols.