BREAKING: Bus Crash and Fire Near Bangkok Leaves Dozens of Children Missing
In a harrowing incident just outside the bustling Thai capital of Bangkok, a bus carrying a group of primary school children has crashed and erupted into flames.
Despite the heroic efforts of sixteen children and three teachers who managed to escape, a total of 22 pupils and three teachers remain unaccounted for, as confirmed by the country’s transport minister.
Thailand’s prime minister has acknowledged the tragedy, stating that there have been “deaths and injuries,” although the exact toll is still unknown.
Dramatic photographs depict the bus completely engulfed in flames, with investigators unable to penetrate the vehicle due to the intense heat, as reported by local media.
Eight of the fortunate 19 survivors have been rushed to hospitals for urgent medical attention, according to a health ministry official.
The ill-fated bus was part of a convoy returning from a school excursion in the northern region of Uthai Thani, with Transport Minister Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit revealing that the vehicle was fueled by highly hazardous compressed natural gas.
“This is an absolute tragedy,” expressed Suriyahe to the press at the scene. “Stringent measures must be implemented to prevent passenger vehicles utilizing such perilous fuel sources.”
Meanwhile, Thailand’s prime minister has instructed government officials to visit the crash site personally.
“As a mother, my heartfelt condolences go out to the families of the victims,” shared Paetongtarn Shinawatra. “The government will cover all medical expenses and compensate the families of the deceased.”
Piyalak Thinkaew, leading the recovery efforts, lamented the challenge of identifying the badly burned bodies of the victims, many of whom were children.
“The bodies we recovered were tragically small,” disclosed Thinkaew to reporters at the scene, noting that the fire originated at the front of the bus, prompting the children to seek refuge at the rear.
Initial reports suggest that the bus suffered a tire blowout while traveling on a highway towards Bangkok, causing it to collide with a barrier, as detailed by a rescue worker in televised footage.
Video footage captured the horrifying sight of the bus being consumed by flames beneath an overpass, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Although the driver absconded from the crash site, authorities are confident in tracking him down, as assured by Thailand’s Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a briefing.
The ages of the children aboard the bus remain uncertain, but the school typically caters to students aged between three and 15 years old.
Thailand’s reputation for road safety remains dismal, with substandard vehicles and reckless driving contributing to an alarming average of around 20,000 fatalities annually. — BBC
