School Bus Fire Claims Multiple Lives and Injures Young Students in Rangsit

[Georgealbert]

 

 

In a tragic incident, a fire broke out on a school bus on Vibhavadi Road, near Zeer Rangsit in Pathum Thani Province, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many kindergarten students. Emergency services raced to provide aid.

 

At 12:25 on October 1, 2024, reports confirmed that a fire engulfed a bus carrying students from Wat Khao Phraya School in Uthai Thani Province. The accident occurred on Vibhavadi Road in the Khu Khot subdistrict, Lam Luk Ka district, Pathum Thani.

 

 

Volunteer rescue teams from Hongsa Khong Luang 21 were immediately dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they found the bus completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters worked urgently to extinguish the blaze, and initial reports confirm multiple casualties, including up to 10 fatalities and many injured students.

 

Both the express and local lanes of inbound Vibhavadi Rangsit Road have been closed indefinitely to facilitate rescue efforts and transport the injured to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.

 

According to early reports, there were 42 individuals aboard the bus, including kindergarten students and teachers. So far, 19 individuals have been confirmed to have escaped unharmed.

Emergency personnel have not yet been able to fully assess the damage inside the bus.  
 

Pictures and video from responders
 

 

-- 2024-10-01

 

 

 

 

[Gottfrid]

What a horrible accident, that must be possible to prevent. Deepest condolences to the ones who lost their children, and hoping for all injured to have a speedy recovery.

 

I am sorry to say, but the many bus fires seems to only happen in certain countries. For example, India in topping the chart, while Thailand and South Africa are having many as well. That´s why I post it must be possible to prevent. Either they use bad and unsafe quality or they do not make regular maintenance. The question is how long time it will be accepted, that companies use crap quality or disregard maintenance  that as a result claim lives of the ones we love and should protect?

Edited October 1 by Gottfrid

[sammieuk1]

OMG' anyone with school kids going on trips must be very nervous I know I Am' my 10 year old is supposed to be going on one Thursday I was already before this, starting to feel uneasy.

 

This countries appalling school safety laid burning bare in a few photos sickening kids failed by adults Rip.🤔  

[Tropicalevo]

That is a horrific fire.

Amazing that some kids managed to get out unharmed.

[edwinchester]

Busses should not burn that quickly trapping so many inside. If this bus is one of those fitted with a cheap gas conversion somebody has blood on their hands.

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Field Trip Bus Fire Death Toll Expected to Rise

 

 

Police have confirmed that the bus was transporting students from Wat Khao Phraya School in Uthai Thani Province on an educational trip to the Ayutthaya Historical Park and the Central EGAT Learning Centre. There were 44 passengers onboard, including 6 teachers and 38 students.

 

According to Preecha, a 50-year-old school janitor who was present, the bus suffered a front-left tyre blowout while traveling on Vibhavadi Road, causing it to veer into a median barrier. Shortly after, the entire bus erupted into flames. Out of the 44 people onboard, only 19 been confirmed as able to escape before the fire intensified, 16 students and 3 teachers.

 

One of the teachers recounted the terrifying moment, explaining that the bus door failed to open as the fire broke out, trapping the remaining students and teachers inside. Rescue workers quickly arrived at the scene, managing to bring the blaze under control after a lengthy battle.

Police and responders are trying to confirm how many victims there are, as for a time the recovery effort was suspended due the gas cylinders on the bus leaking. The death toll is expected to rise.

 

-- 2024-10-01

 

[richard_smith237]

Utterly heartbreaking- not much more to say here really.

 

Years ago in the Uk a school minivan on a trip crashed in a bridge on a motorway. Following the horrific tragedy there was significant regulatory change & enforcement.

 

I fear all we will see here is ‘an announcement’ - with no developments, checks or measures & certifications for public & school transport. 
 

How a fire starts & spreads this quickly implies LGV (potentially or similar) & highly flammable materials / upholstery etc. 

[richard_smith237]

10 minutes ago, edwinchester said:

Busses should not burn that quickly trapping so many inside. If this bus is one of those fitted with a cheap gas conversion somebody has blood on their hands.

100% agree - no ‘public use’ vehicle should erupt into flames so quickly.

 

Front left blew out - what was the condition of the other tyres ? (Possible to tell or were they melted) 

[nikmar]

As a father with a son in high school, I find this unbearable to think about. May the departed rest in peace.

[Eloquent pilgrim]

 

As others have said, this is utterly devastating. RIP little angels and little soldiers.

 

Surely there should be a ban on LPG being used by any buses, minivans, taxis or any form of public transport; the financial savings that are the reason for using LPG, could be counterbalanced in tax concessions for companies and taxi drivers. Don’t let this ever happen again.

[webfact]

More than 20 children feared dead in Thailand bus crash

 

The bus, carrying dozens of primary school age children, was returning from a trip north of Bangkok

Pictures and video from responders
 

Jonathan Head
BBC News
Reporting fromBangkok

A bus carrying dozens of primary school children has crashed and caught fire just outside the Thai capital Bangkok.

 

Sixteen children and three teachers are reported to have escaped, but 22 pupils and three teachers are still unaccounted for, according to the country's transport minister.

 

Officials say they have found ten bodies on the bus, according to the BBC Thai service.

 

Photographs show the bus completely destroyed by the fire. Investigators are said to have been unable to enter the vehicle because of the heat, according to local media.

 

The bus was one of three that were carrying children and teachers returning from a school field trip in the northern province of Uthai Thani.

 

Full story: BBC News 

-- 2024-10-01

 

 

[Jaggg88]

Such a tragedy just before the end of the term 😒

[roo860]

According to one Thai news channel the driver fled the scene.

[kwilco]

Probably need to look at the construction of these buses.

[mr_lob]

Incredibly sad and tragic. As is standard in these situations, there will be a knee-jerk reaction. Something like "PM orders inspection of all buses"

Never any pre-emptive measures. Normal people suffer through lax enforcement

Edited October 1 by mr_lob

[Blueman1]

11 minutes ago, Jaggg88 said:

Such a tragedy just before the end of the term 😒

No,I'ts a Tragedy at ANYTIME !!

[roo860]

37 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

Utterly heartbreaking- not much more to say here really.

 

Years ago in the Uk a school minivan on a trip crashed in a bridge on a motorway. Following the horrific tragedy there was significant regulatory change & enforcement.

 

I fear all we will see here is ‘an announcement’ - with no developments, checks or measures & certifications for public & school transport. 
 

How a fire starts & spreads this quickly implies LGV (potentially or similar) & highly flammable materials / upholstery etc. 

My mate who I used to work with on the road markings was first on the scene at that incident, they were white lining, he was trying to get burning kids out the back doors.

Horrendous. 

[steven100]

oh dear Georgealbert,  this story is just too distressing for me to comment.  

[ukrules]

8 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Probably need to look at the construction of these buses.

 

I think they know very well how to make this kind of vehicle, it's not the manufacturer.

 

 

Edited October 1 by ukrules

[JonnyF]

Horrendous scenes. Sounds like between 20 and 25 fatalities. Awful 😡.

[RandolphGB]

The driver seems to have escaped and done and runner. 

[MalcolmB]

Door wouldn’t open and the kindergarten aged kids couldn’t manage to break the emergency window. 
 

 

[Lorry]

This is worldwide front-page news.

The PM has given a statement. 

Shouldn't AN move it from local Bangkok News to Thailand News?

 

[Baba Naba]

WTF???? 😮😨😭🙏

[Celsius]

If anyone wonders why is this a 3rd world country despite your fancy shopping malls and condos that start falling apart after a decade.....well here it is.

 

A daily event, just more dead today.

[JRG23]

Horrific. Deeply distressing.

And what angers me is that the Thai authorities won't do anything meaningful and effective to prevent these terrible events to happen again and again. 

[ronster]

Seems to have been engulfed in flames very quickly. Surely a mercedes bus would be designed with fire retardant seats , the video of this looks like the whole thing was quickly ablaze.

Never seen a country with so many bus accidents every month . I refuse to let my wife travel on them .

 

[scubascuba3]

26 minutes ago, kwilco said:

Probably need to look at the construction of these buses.

It's the tyres again, shouldn't get a blow out

[chiang mai]

Deep condolences to the families of those who perished.

[Charlest1971]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

One of the teachers recounted the terrifying moment, explaining that the bus door failed to open as the fire broke out,

Why aren’t there fire extinguishers on board? It sounds like this bus use’s extremely cheap parts. The fuel tank should be reinforced to prevent fuel leakage, in an accident. I am afraid the authorities have blood on their hands. And the blood of pure innocent children.
Shame on the authorities, responsible for sourcing school transportation. 😡

Edited October 1 by Charlest1971