Inferno bus in use for 54 years

[webfact]

 

THE BUS that caught fire on Vibhavadi Rangsit road leading to the tragic death of 23 mainly kindergarten and primary schoolchildren and teachers had been in use for 54 years with the engine switched from Isuzu to Benz at a later date, Amarin TV said this morning (Oct. 2).

 

This bus, the second of a convoy of three, was travelling from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani province on a field trip for mainly around a hundred kindergarten and primary schoolchildren to Ayutthaya Historical Park and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) headquarters in Nonthaburi.

The vehicle had caught fire in front of the National Memorial on Vibhavadi Rangsit road at 12.25 p.m. yesterday with police saying a tyre had exploded triggering the inferno. Firefighters said the sight of children’s bodies piled up at the rear exit door was horrifying.

 

The Land Transport Department revealed that this Isuzu branded bus was registered on February 19, 1970.

 

It was specified as a non-regular passenger vehicle with 41 seats and a total weight of 16,600kg. In 2018, the department was notified that the bus had been modified with a Benz engine installed. Last tax was paid in May this year.

 

by TNR Staff

TOP: Scenes from the bus inferno on Vibhavadi Rangsit road. Photos: Amarin TV

 

Full story: THAI NEWSROOM 

-- 2024-10-02

 

 

[lordgrinz]

A 54 year old vehicle sounds like a safe vehicle for driving children around in, and 41 seats? There were more than 41 people onboard. 

[watchcat]

9 minutes ago, lordgrinz said:

There were more than 41 people onboard. 

 

True, but in busses 54 years ago passengers often sat on on floor if no seats were available.

[impulse]

So the driver is basically a scapegoat.

 

[brianthainess]

So now the truth is coming out.

[Celsius]

It was a good value for money 

[MalcolmB]

50 years it had proven itself.

i always like traveling on proven older planes than brand new ones.

 

A tragic unintentional accident always brings out the finger pointers. 

 

 Apparently the older kids and teachers helped the little ones escape first. 
Good kids. Heroes.

[RandolphGB]

This is pure greed from the bus company owner. Most Thai businesses keep all the profit instead of reinvesting in improvements. In this case, pocketing cash instead of paying for basic safety protocols to be followed while running ancient vehicles.

 

Every problem in Thailand always comes down to laziness and greed. 

 

 

[lordgrinz]

4 minutes ago, RandolphGB said:

This is pure greed from the bus company owner. Most Thai businesses keep all the profit instead of reinvesting in improvements. In this case, pocketing cash instead of paying for basic safety protocols to be followed while running ancient vehicles.

 

Every problem in Thailand always comes down to laziness and greed. 

 

 

 

.....and total disregard for safety.

[Venom]

What junk yard did they pull the heap of excrement out of? Why is it thay allow the old, outdated,

out of commission and hack modefied public transport vehicles to be recommissioned to transport students to and from school?

 

Seeing young children in school uniform bording the local school transport death trap is a daily occurrence everywhere in Thailand. 

 

The locals seem oblivious to the danger 

 

 

 

[Antti]

The bus certainly doesn’t look that old. There is some mix up with the Buddhist calendar and western calendar I think.

[impulse]

1 minute ago, Antti said:

The bus certainly doesn’t look that old. There is some mix up with the Buddhist calendar and western calendar I think.

 

I've seen some of the shops where they take a 50+ year old chassis and add a plywood shell with tinfoil skin to make it look newer.  I'm appalled at how flimsy the bodies are built.

[Will B Good]

 

 

A tyre exploded causing the fire.....mmmm?

 

Find that very hard to believe.

[Artisi]

Great to see all the transport and fire experts on the case with a full analysis already completed and presented. 

[ikke1959]

That is the problem in Thailand... No investments are made no changes no renewals .... Look how many trucks are driving around more than 75 years old or older.... and that in a era of climate change.. a 54 year old bus will pollute  a lot and besides that they are totally out of date....  I always say that the mai pen rai attitude in Thailand will bring Thailand in big troubles on everything.. Mai pen rai no helmet, mai pen rai, old bus, mai pen rai, flooding, mai pen rai 10k wallet for alcohol sales, mai pen rai no study you will pass anyway, mai pen rai and the list can go on