A devastating incident unfolded today in Thailand when a school bus carrying 46 people, including young students, teachers, the driver, and an attendant, caught fire near the Zeer Rangsit shopping mall on Vibhavadi Road in Pathum Thani province. According to reports from AFP, more than 25 students lost their lives in the tragic accident, with several others feared dead. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown.
The Ruamkatanyu Foundation, which arrived at the scene for rescue operations, reported that many students suffered fatal burns. The fire reportedly broke out around 12:30 p.m. local time during a school field trip. The situation escalated quickly as teachers were unable to open the bus doors, trapping the students inside. Thick black smoke filled the bus, suffocating the children before they could escape the raging flames.
A heart-wrenching video of the burning bus has gone viral on social media, leaving viewers in tears as they witness the extent of the tragedy. Eyewitnesses reported thick clouds of smoke billowing from the bus as flames engulfed it.
According to a report by the Free Press Journal, hours after the fire was extinguished, the bodies of many victims were still inside the bus. The children aboard were elementary and junior high school students, who had been excited about their trip before the tragic accident turned their journey into a nightmare.
Similar Incidents in Thailand Raise Concerns
This heartbreaking incident adds to a growing list of fatal accidents involving school buses in Thailand this year. Earlier in March, a bus carrying students in the Phitsanulok province met with a similar fate when a fire erupted, resulting in several injuries but no fatalities. In July, another incident occurred in Udon Thani province where a school bus overturned, causing serious injuries to many children.
With today’s accident being the most severe, it has raised serious concerns about the safety standards of school transportation across the country. Parents and authorities are calling for urgent action to prevent such disasters in the future.
