Tourists escape unhurt but bus engulfed in flames

BANGKOK: -- A double decker bus from Bangkok with about 30 European tourists caught fire while on the way to Surat Thani, but nobody was injured.

The incident happened at 3.00 am Thursday on Asian Highway 41 in Tambon Kron of Sawee district, Surat Thani province.

The bus which took the tourists from Khao Sarn road in Bangkok to the ferry pier in Surat Thani was entirely engulfed in flames and damaged in an hour fire before the first fire truck would arrive.

All the suitcases and belongings of the tourists which were kept inside the rear cargo space were also damaged.

According to the bus driver Pongoan Daengmuang, 40, of Choke Malidaeng tour bus, he left Bangkok at 7.30 pm on Wednesday night with 34 tourists mostly from Europe, to the ferry pier to Samui island.

But as the bus arrived at Sawee district, electronic system of the bus had trouble, causing the hydraulic system of the power brake to fail.

The braking system was overheating, forcing him to drive the bus to park on the shoulder of the highway.

He said he also noticed smoke coming out from the rear tyres, and he immediately awoke the sleeping tourists to leave the bus.

But as the normal front exit was locked due to the failed electronic system, he told all passengers to leave by the emergency exit.

He also said he tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher but couldn’t make it as the fire raged beyond control.

He ranged the police for help.

The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver.

The police later sought help from Napho local administration office which is 10 kilometres away.

But before the first fire truck would arrive an hour later, the entire bus along with luggage of the tourists were all burnt out in flames under the eyes of disappointed and unsatisfied tourists of the late arrival.

Many tourists were seen taking pictures of the fire raging bus with their mobile phones, and some even shouting with dissatisfaction of the local administration office’s unpreparedness to deal with fire.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/tourists-escape-unhurt-but-bus-engulfed-in-flames

-- Thai PBS 2015-03-19

Brakes locked? Check to see if brake pads have worn down to metal. If so, the pads would not retract from the drums.

Good nobody died.

The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver.

No driver, No good.

....before the first fire truck would arrive an hour later, the entire bus along with luggage of the tourists were all burnt out in flames.
One hour later, no good too.

When was the braking system of the bus last serviced?

Edited March 19, 201511 yr by tomacht8

Maybe it was one these death trap localy made buses. The one that are too high, too narrow. And built cheaply. The godmother from Isan, is well protected!

Good nobody died.

The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver.

No driver, No good.

....before the first fire truck would arrive an hour later, the entire bus along with luggage of the tourists were all burnt out in flames.

One hour later, no good too.

When was the braking system of the bus last serviced?

Problem seems to be they did,nt call but ranged.

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Good nobody died.

The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver.

No driver, No good.

....before the first fire truck would arrive an hour later, the entire bus along with luggage of the tourists were all burnt out in flames.
One hour later, no good too.

When was the braking system of the bus last serviced?

No driver... Here's another incident about 15 years back at the big fire station behind the Soi Suan Plu area.

Station gets call to come urgently to big fire.

The two largest fire trucks cannot be driven out because:

- Parked and locked immediately in front of one big fire truck is the personal vehicle of the fire chief and his whereabouts unknown and no response from his mobile phone. No keys for this vehicle held inside the fire station.

- Parked and locked immediately in front of one big fire truck is the personal vehicle of the wife of the fire chief and her whereabouts unknown and no response from her mobile phone. No keys for this vehicle held inside the fire station.

There was public outcry and there was an investigation. Result: never mind because the chief and his wife had nowhere else to park their cars.

Well done to the driver to get all the passengers out!!

He probably saved their lives.

These very tall futuristic buses with actions figures painted all over them, and bass speakers that can shake the ground, are in fact made of wood. Only the chassis and engine are steel, wood and glass that just falls apart in a crash, and in a fire.......the picture speaks for itself.

At least brakes stopped bus, no worries Farang bus insure to bad not cover your belonging though but bright side we will sell you new clothes at cheap give you farang special deal only 200% mark up. amazing Thainess Oh nice give tip to driver at least he wake you up.

Huh its always the brakes or the weather eh!!

Whats its not ever is bad maintenance /poor driving skills.

How dare these tourists shout at the locals, at all times stay calm and tow the Thai line, mai pen rai..........obey!!

Edited March 19, 201511 yr by kannot

• caveat emptor.

I hope the pictures make it on prime time UK.

The only way to get action in Thailand is by risking "Thailand's reputation". Little do the nuts in charge realise that the risk is minimal, as there is no reputation to risk

Risking lives is standard procedure.

Good nobody died.

The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver.

No driver, No good.

....before the first fire truck would arrive an hour later, the entire bus along with luggage of the tourists were all burnt out in flames.

One hour later, no good too.

When was the braking system of the bus last serviced?

Serviced? Who needs to service? We get new bus every ten years not need service.

European Tour Bus Catches Fire in Southern Thailand
By Khaosod English


The burning bus on 41 Highway in Sawee district in Chumphon Province, 18 March 2015.

CHUMPHON — Over 30 foreign tourists were forced to flee for their lives after their tour bus suddenly caught fire on a highway in southern Thailand this morning.

Police were first informed about the fire in Chumphon province at 4 am this morning, but firefighters were not dispatched until an hour later, causing some tourists who were waiting at the scene to boo as the firefighters arrived.

No one was injured in the incident, but the driver of the tour bus, Pongpan Daengduan, said all of the tourists’ bags were lost in the fire because of the delay.

According to Pongpan, 4o, the bus belonged to a tour company called Choke Mali Daeng. He said he picked up 34 European tourists from Khaosan Road in Bangkok on 7:30 pm yesterday to drive them to a ferry port in Surat Thani province, where the passengers would take boats to Koh Samui island.

Full story: http://www.khaosodenglish.com/detail.php?newsid=1426750682

-- Khaosod English 2015-03-19

Glad nobody got hurt this time.

Tourists just travel on to Koh Samui. Consider this your lucky day. The Thais would buy a lottery ticket.

All you need is some swimwear, can be bought on the beach.

European Tour Bus Catches Fire in Southern Thailand

What a relief, for a second I thought it was a Thai bus!!

Looks like the words maintenance and mai pen rai don't go together well here

Where did I read this lately:

Thailand's outdated tech sector casts cloud over economy

Edited March 19, 201511 yr by Lupatria

If the driver's account is true, then full credit to him. Stopped the bus, got the passengers out, and then attempted to douse the fire. Wish there were more drivers like him.

Great job driver..

Good nobody died.

The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver.

No driver, No good.

....before the first fire truck would arrive an hour later, the entire bus along with luggage of the tourists were all burnt out in flames.

One hour later, no good too.

When was the braking system of the bus last serviced?

Problem seems to be they did,nt call but ranged.

What the hell are you talking about. "They did'nt call but ranged"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the tourists can bitch about the situation, but at least nodoby died

" He ranged the police for help" . Ranged ? where on earth did this journalist learn his english RUNG as in past tense and there is no such word as RANGED unless you are 3 and making a call to Santa Clause

I Ranged up Santa but he was much busy with the elves and will can't come to the phone.

When I read headline with word "Miraculous" I thought "what? These things don't have doors?" but then I read 'The braking system was overheating, forcing him to drive the bus to park on the shoulder of the highway." Now that is a miracle. Standard operating response would be to speed up so as to use the wind to blow the fire out....

Good nobody died.

The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver.

No driver, No good.

....before the first fire truck would arrive an hour later, the entire bus along with luggage of the tourists were all burnt out in flames.

One hour later, no good too.

When was the braking system of the bus last serviced?

Problem seems to be they did,nt call but ranged.

What the hell are you talking about. "They did'nt call but ranged"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read the op.

the tourists can bitch about the situation, but at least nodoby died

The tourists are just not used to the incompetence they find in Thailand ....

I fully expected the last sentence of the op to read...the driver fled the scene, atleast this one woke the tourists up and attempted to put the fire out

Yes looks like a good brake fire, amazing he kept driving with the brakes on . What a dip sh..t !!!!! He was properly trained of course.

Yes looks like a good brake fire, amazing he kept driving with the brakes on . What a dip sh..t !!!!! He was properly trained of course.

He was trained enough to probably save the life of his passengers...............

Obviously a backpacker bus, starting from Khao San road instead of from the Southern Bus Station (Saitaaimai) like regular buses do. Backpacker buses are often enough in a bad technical state.

Brakes locked? Check to see if brake pads have worn down to metal. If so, the pads would not retract from the drums.

And where did you elicit that piece of information? The front passenger door was locked.

"The police then called the nearest firefighting station at Kron local administration office for help but was told that there was no driver."

This says it all, and again !!