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Heartbreaking Tragedy: School Bus Fire Claims Lives Of Young Students In Pathum Thani
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has visited PatRangsit Hospital to meet with students injured in a bus fire during a school field trip in Pathum Thani province. Photo courtesy of NNT- National News Bureau of Thailand
A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road in Pathum Thani Province, near Bangkok, when a school bus carrying 38 students and 6 teachers caught fire around noon on October 1. The horrific incident claimed the lives of over 10 young students, whose bodies were found near the back door of the bus.
The bus, carrying a total of 46 passengers—including a driver and an attendant—was transporting students from Wat Phraya Sangkharam School in central Uthai Thani Province to Ayutthaya for what was supposed to be a fun-filled school trip. The group was heading to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Learning Center when disaster struck.
According to eyewitness reports, the fire is suspected to have started after one of the bus’s tires burst, causing the vehicle to scrape against a road barrier. Unfortunately, the situation escalated quickly as the bus door wouldn’t open, trapping the children inside. As the bus filled with smoke, students and teachers struggled desperately to escape.
An eyewitness, Mr. Krailert Isawat, shared the terrifying scene he witnessed. “I was driving beside the bus when I saw smoke coming from the roof. I stopped and tried to help, but the fire was just too strong. We couldn’t get to the children inside. I saw two kids and a teacher running out with flames all over their bodies. It was a scene I’ll never forget,” he said, his voice breaking.
In a devastating turn of events, the bus driver, Mr. Saman Chanphut, vanished from the scene and has not been reachable since. As rescue efforts continued, officials and bystanders were left to face the grim reality of what had transpired.
The tragic incident has left the entire nation in shock, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visibly emotional upon learning about the loss of so many young lives. "Children of this age are helpless in such situations. My heart aches for the families affected by this unimaginable tragedy," she said tearfully. In response, she dispatched key officials, including the Ministers of Interior and Transport, to the scene to oversee rescue and support efforts.
Further investigations revealed that the bus was a modified vehicle—a converted Isuzu truck bearing Mercedes-Benz logos. It was insured, with a policy offering compensation of 500,000 baht per deceased person. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit noted that the bus, though not a double-decker, was powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), making it highly flammable. He promised a thorough review of safety standards for gas-fueled buses to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The victims ranged from Grade 1 students, as young as 6 years old, to Grade 9 students, around 15 years old. While initial reports suggested 23 fatalities—20 students and 3 teachers—many of these individuals are still classified as missing as authorities work to confirm their identities.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited PatRangsit Hospital to personally console the students who survived but were injured in the blaze. Three of these children are currently in the Intensive Care Unit, fighting for their lives.
As investigations continue, the entire country mourns the loss of such young, promising lives. This tragic incident has not only highlighted the need for stricter vehicle safety standards but has also underscored the importance of quick and efficient disaster response protocols to ensure that such a catastrophe never happens again.
The bus, carrying a total of 46 passengers—including a driver and an attendant—was transporting students from Wat Phraya Sangkharam School in central Uthai Thani Province to Ayutthaya for what was supposed to be a fun-filled school trip. The group was heading to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Learning Center when disaster struck.
According to eyewitness reports, the fire is suspected to have started after one of the bus’s tires burst, causing the vehicle to scrape against a road barrier. Unfortunately, the situation escalated quickly as the bus door wouldn’t open, trapping the children inside. As the bus filled with smoke, students and teachers struggled desperately to escape.
An eyewitness, Mr. Krailert Isawat, shared the terrifying scene he witnessed. “I was driving beside the bus when I saw smoke coming from the roof. I stopped and tried to help, but the fire was just too strong. We couldn’t get to the children inside. I saw two kids and a teacher running out with flames all over their bodies. It was a scene I’ll never forget,” he said, his voice breaking.
In a devastating turn of events, the bus driver, Mr. Saman Chanphut, vanished from the scene and has not been reachable since. As rescue efforts continued, officials and bystanders were left to face the grim reality of what had transpired.
The tragic incident has left the entire nation in shock, with Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visibly emotional upon learning about the loss of so many young lives. "Children of this age are helpless in such situations. My heart aches for the families affected by this unimaginable tragedy," she said tearfully. In response, she dispatched key officials, including the Ministers of Interior and Transport, to the scene to oversee rescue and support efforts.
Further investigations revealed that the bus was a modified vehicle—a converted Isuzu truck bearing Mercedes-Benz logos. It was insured, with a policy offering compensation of 500,000 baht per deceased person. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit noted that the bus, though not a double-decker, was powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), making it highly flammable. He promised a thorough review of safety standards for gas-fueled buses to prevent such tragedies in the future.
The victims ranged from Grade 1 students, as young as 6 years old, to Grade 9 students, around 15 years old. While initial reports suggested 23 fatalities—20 students and 3 teachers—many of these individuals are still classified as missing as authorities work to confirm their identities.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited PatRangsit Hospital to personally console the students who survived but were injured in the blaze. Three of these children are currently in the Intensive Care Unit, fighting for their lives.
As investigations continue, the entire country mourns the loss of such young, promising lives. This tragic incident has not only highlighted the need for stricter vehicle safety standards but has also underscored the importance of quick and efficient disaster response protocols to ensure that such a catastrophe never happens again.
Oct 2, 2024
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