Tragic fire devastates Thai school bus, up to 25 feared dead – world news

A tragic fire ripped through a Thai bus carrying 44 students and teachers on a school trip on Tuesday, leaving up to 25 feared dead. Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed the number of victims and expressed condolences to the victims’ families. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit mentioned that 25 people were still missing after the fire.

“Of the 44 people on board – 38 students and six teachers – three teachers and 16 students managed to escape,” he said. “We are still unclear about the status of the missing people.”

The bus, traveling from Uthai Thani province, suffered a tire burst on a highway near Bangkok, causing it to crash into a barrier, according to a rescue worker seen on local television footage. The bus was running on compressed gas, which ignited its fuel tanks after the accident. Video from the scene showed flames engulfing the bus under an overpass and thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

“I have been informed of the fire involving Uthai Thani students which has caused deaths and injuries,” Paetongtarn wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “As a mother, I express my deepest condolences to the families affected.”

The fire was eventually put out, but rescuers had to wait for the bus to cool down before they began searching for bodies. Thailand’s road safety record is among the worst in the world, with factors such as unsafe vehicles and poor driving contributing to the high death toll.