BANGKOK – A tragic incident unfolded in suburban Bangkok today as a bus carrying young students and their teachers caught fire, leaving 25 individuals on board feared dead. The bus, which was carrying 44 passengers from Uthai Thani province to Ayutthaya for a school trip, erupted in flames around noon in Pathum Thani province, a northern suburb of the capital, according to Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruengkit.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul stated that the authorities have yet to confirm the exact number of fatalities as the investigation is still ongoing. However, based on the number of survivors, it is feared that 25 people have lost their lives. The bus remains too hot for officials to safely enter and assess the situation, with bodies still trapped inside hours after the fire broke out.
In response to the devastating incident, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences on social media and assured the public that the government would cover medical expenses and provide compensation to the victims’ families. Videos circulating on social media depicted the bus engulfed in flames, emitting thick black smoke as it sat on the road.
Details about the students, such as their ages and identities, have yet to be disclosed. A rescuer at the scene suggested that the fire may have originated from a tire explosion, causing the vehicle to collide with a road barrier. Rescue group Hongsakul Khlong Luang 21 reported discovering at least 10 bodies on the bus.
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