A devastating accident has claimed the lives of 20 children and three teachers after a bus carrying school pupils crashed and burst into flames outside Bangkok.
The bus was returning to the Thai capital following a school trip to northern Thailand when the tragedy occurred.
The crash happened when the bus collided with a concrete barrier on a highway just north of Bangkok. Witnesses say a front tire burst, causing the driver to lose control.
Moments later, the vehicle was engulfed in flames, trapping many passengers inside as thick black smoke poured into the sky.
According to reports, the driver initially attempted to extinguish the fire but fled the scene shortly after. Local media reported that he later surrendered to police 100 km (61 miles) from the crash site.
Footage from the scene showed the bus burning under an overpass as rescue workers struggled to control the blaze. Many victims were unable to escape the fire, which reportedly started at the front of the bus.
Nineteen children and three teachers survived the accident, with 16 of them being treated in hospital for injuries. The cause of the fire remains unclear.
Thailand’s Transport Minister, Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit, revealed that the bus was powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), which he described as “extremely risky.” He called for a review of safety measures, suggesting a potential ban on CNG-powered passenger vehicles.
Piyalak Thinkaew, who led the recovery efforts, said identifying the bodies was difficult due to the extent of the burns. “Some of the bodies we found were very small,” he said.
Forensic police confirmed that of the 23 victims, 11 were male, seven female, and five were unidentifiable.
Thailand has one of the world’s worst road safety records, with nearly 20,000 fatalities annually. An investigation into the crash is underway.
