AS MANY AS 25 schoolchildren and teachers died after their bus caught fire in front of the National Memorial on Vibhavadi Rangsit road at 12.25 p.m. today (Oct. 1) with 19 others who escaped being rushed to hospital, Amarin TV and Thai Rath newspaper said.
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 to Ayutthaya Historical Park and Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) headquarters in Nonthaburi.
Initial reports indicated that the vehicle was carrying 44 students and teachers with 19 able to get out and were taken to Rangsit and Rajavithi hospitals but the total number of fatalities is still under investigation.
A Ruamkatanyu Foundation rescuer, Mr. Anwut Pho-ampai, said in a post on his Facebook page entitled NAKON45 that more than 10 bodies were found at the rear exit door.
“Heartbreaking! Rescue workers found more than 10 children’s bodies at the fire exit door at the back of the bus!!” he said.
Prime Minister Paethongtarn Shinawatra ordered Deputy Prime Minister/Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to supervise the area where the bus caught fire.
She told reporters that the number of children and teachers injured is still estimated and at present it is believed that 25 have died in the blaze which is quite a large number because the count had started with 10 fatalities with most being children.
Well-known influencer Gun Jom Phalang, or Kanthat Phongpaiboonwej, said on his Facebook page, “It’s very depressing that the bodies of children were found pressed against the emergency exit and they couldn’t get out.
“I think we should cancel field trips for kindergarten or elementary school children.”
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Firemen spraying water on the blazing bus and the vehicle after the fire was put out. Photos: Amarin TV
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