Pictures courtesy of Kaoded

A chartered bus was completely destroyed by fire early on the morning of 8 January 2026 while parked near Bang Pakong Police Station in Chachoengsao province, with no injuries reported as the vehicle was empty at the time. The blaze caused significant damage to the bus but did not disrupt traffic or result in any casualties. Authorities said the fire was likely caused by a battery malfunction at the front of the vehicle.

The incident occurred at approximately 05:40 on Thursday, 8 January 2026, near a curve at the junction connecting Thepharat Road (Highway 34) and Siritothon Road (Highway 314) in Moo 18, Bang Pakong subdistrict. The location is about 80 metres from Bang Pakong Police Station. Police Lieutenant Colonel Noppadol Thaweechart, an investigating officer at Bang Pakong Police Station, received the emergency report and coordinated the response.

At the scene, officers found a purple, black and red Scania bus decorated with cartoon graphics, registered in Bangkok. The vehicle was a hired bus used for tourism tours and employee transport. Three fire engines from Bang Pakong Municipality and Bang Pakong Phromthep Rangsarit Municipality were dispatched to contain the blaze, and evidence showed that three onboard fire extinguishers had been used in an initial attempt to control the fire.

Firefighters determined that about 85% of the bus had been destroyed by fire, with only the rear section and the rear-mounted engine remaining intact. The driver, identified only as Mr Ek, said: “The cause was the battery exploding, with smoke from a short circuit at the front of the bus. I tried to use the fire extinguishers, but it was out of control.” Traffic police added that the bus had travelled from Chonburi and was heading back to its depot in Ban Pho district, stopping near the police station shortly before the fire broke out.

Mr Ek said he noticed heavy smoke coming from beneath the front wheel arch as he was driving off, before flames erupted at the front of the vehicle. He pulled back over on the roadside near the curve, but the fire spread rapidly throughout the bus. Police confirmed the bus was covered by voluntary insurance and no passengers were on board, preventing injuries or fatalities.

Kaoded reported that investigators stated that the preliminary cause was a battery failure at the front of the bus. Further checks will be conducted as part of the insurance and police procedures.

Key Takeaways

• A chartered Scania bus was 85% destroyed by fire near Bang Pakong Police Station on 8 January 2026.

• No injuries occurred as the bus was empty and the incident happened early in the morning.

• Police believe the fire was caused by a battery malfunction at the front of the vehicle.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now from Kaoded 2026-01-09

 

 

“The cause was the battery exploding, with smoke from a short circuit at the front of the bus.

Batteries usually only explode for one reason... poor maintenance.