More than Two dozen children feared dead in school bus cash near Bangkok

About 25 people were feared dead in Thailand on Tuesday when a school bus carrying students and teachers on a field trip caught fire on the outskirts of the capital Bangkok, with 16 passengers hospitalised, the government said.

Police could not immediately confirm the number of injuries or deaths but Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters about 25 people were believed to have been killed, without elaborating.

Sixteen students and three teachers were sent to a hospital for treatment, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said, adding the causes of the incident were still be investigated.

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.

The blaze was later extinguished.

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 250 km (155 miles) 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.

A devastating bus accident just outside Bangkok, Thailand, has left at least 25 children feared dead after the vehicle, carrying dozens of primary school students and teachers, crashed and caught fire.

The bus was returning from a school field trip in Uthai Thani, a northern province, when a tire burst, causing it to hit a barrier and ignite into flames.

According to Thai authorities, 16 children and three teachers managed to escape, while 22 pupils and three teachers remain unaccounted for. The bus, powered by compressed natural gas, was engulfed in flames shortly after the crash.

Emergency responders reported that extreme heat has hindered their ability to search the wreckage.

Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit expressed concerns over the use of compressed natural gas in vehicles, calling it "extremely risky" and suggesting a possible ban on such fuels in passenger buses.

"This is a very tragic incident," Juangroongruangkit stated, emphasizing the need for stricter safety measures.

Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, confirmed fatalities from the crash but did not specify numbers. She expressed her sorrow for the families of the victims and promised that the government would cover medical expenses and provide compensation to the families of those who lost their lives.

Piyalak Thinkaew, the leader of the rescue operation, revealed that the fire started at the front of the bus, and most of the victims were found at the back, where they likely fled in an attempt to escape.

"Some of the bodies were very small," Thinkaew said, making it difficult to identify them.

Eight people who survived the crash were hospitalized with serious injuries, including burns.

Video footage from local media showed flames consuming the bus and thick black smoke filling the sky. The driver of the bus fled the scene but is being sought by authorities.

Thailand has a notorious reputation for road safety, with approximately 20,000 fatalities per year due to unsafe driving and vehicles.

The country’s road safety record is among the worst globally, with frequent reports of accidents involving buses and other public transportation.

This tragedy serves as a harsh reminder of the need for improved road safety regulations and stricter enforcement, especially for vehicles transporting children.