25 feared dead as blaze engulfs school bus in Thailand

BANGKOK – A devastating fire tore through a bus carrying 44 students and teachers on a school trip in Thailand on Oct 1, with up to 25 feared dead.

The Nation newspaper quoted rescuers as saying they had recovered at least 10 charred remains from what remained of the bus.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said the number of fatalities was not clear, but 25 people were unaccounted for after the blaze.

“Initial reports said there are 44 on board: 38 students and six teachers. As far as we know now, three teachers and 16 students got out,” he told reporters.

“For those still missing, we are not clear yet,” he said.

Early images posted on social media and carried by local news outlets showed thick grey smoke pouring out of the bus, parts of which were still on fire.

A Reuters photographer saw fire trucks, police and rescue vehicles parked around the blackened vehicle, with a cluster of firefighters at the entrance.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said the students were on a field trip from the province of Uthai Thani, about 250km north of the capital.

“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families,” she said in a social media post on X, without providing details.

The students and teachers were from the Wat Khao Phaya School in Uthai Thani.

They were heading to Ayutthaya city, 80km north of Bangkok, when one of the bus’ front tyres blew up, causing the bus to swerve and hit a metal barrier.

The resulting crash sparked a fire that quickly engulfed the bus, The Nation reported.