A devastating accident shook Bangkok on Tuesday, October 1, when a school bus carrying students and teachers suddenly caught fire, claiming the lives of more than 20 people. Sixteen others, including several children, were rushed to hospital with serious injuries.
The heartbreaking incident has sent shockwaves across Thailand, igniting urgent calls for improved school transport safety and preventive measures to ensure such a tragedy is never repeated.
What began as a joyful school excursion ended in unthinkable tragedy on Tuesday, October 1, when a bus carrying students and teachers from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School erupted in flames after a devastating crash in Bangkok. The group, traveling from Uthai Thani province, had been en route to educational sites including Ayutthaya Historical Park and the Electricity Generating Authority Learning Center in Nonthaburi.
The accident unfolded when one of the bus tires suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle slammed into a metal barrier, creating sparks that ignited the gas tank and triggered a fierce blaze. In a matter of minutes, the bus was engulfed in flames, trapping passengers inside and leaving little time for escape.
Tragically, more than 20 people—mostly children—lost their lives. Sixteen others were seriously injured and rushed to nearby hospitals. Harrowing eyewitness accounts revealed that several students tried to flee to the rear of the bus, only to be overtaken by the spreading fire.
Emergency crews responded swiftly, battling the inferno and rescuing survivors in a race against time. The scale of the loss has sent shockwaves throughout Thailand, plunging families, educators, and communities into deep mourning.
In the aftermath, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit pledged a full investigation into the incident. While the tire blowout is believed to have triggered the crash, authorities are also examining the vehicle’s maintenance records, driver behavior, and school safety protocols to determine the full chain of failures that led to the disaster.
This heartbreaking incident has sparked a nationwide conversation about the urgent need to improve the safety standards of school transportation and ensure that no student’s life is ever put at risk during a routine trip again.
