BANGKOK: Rescuers pulled children’s bodies from the charred wreckage of a Thailand school bus in a northern suburb of Bangkok on Tuesday after an accident turned the vehicle into an inferno, with more than 20 children and teachers feared dead.
The incident unfolded as the bus, carrying 38 students ranging from kindergarten to young teenagers, and six teachers, was involved in an accident while en route to a science museum.
Rescue operations are ongoing, with emergency workers recovering bodies from the charred remains of the vehicle.
Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said that 21 persons managed to escape the blaze, while 23 others are still unaccounted for and are feared dead. The severity of the fire left many of the victims’ bodies unrecognizable, necessitating DNA testing for identification.
Piyalak Thinkaew, the lead rescuer at the scene, recounted the harrowing discovery of the victims. “Some of the bodies we rescued were very, very small. They must have been very young in age,” he said. “The kids’ instinct was to escape to the back, so the bodies were found there.”
Witnesses reported that the tragedy began around 12:30 PM local time when a tyre burst, causing the bus to crash into a barrier and ignite. Video footage from the scene revealed flames engulfing the vehicle beneath an overpass, sending thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
The bus driver has reportedly fled the scene. Acting National Police Chief Kitrat Phanphet stated, “The driver is on the run; we will not wait for him to turn himself in — we will send a team to find him.”
Some survivors have suffered severe burns, with medical professionals indicating they face a long and painful recovery.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra visited survivors in the hospital, offering condolences and pledging that the government would cover medical expenses and compensate the victims’ families.
“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased,” she posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
