A devastating accident unfolded just outside Bangkok, where the bodies of 20 children and three teachers were recovered after a school bus crashed and caught fire. The bus was returning to the Thai capital following a school trip to the northern region of the country.

Videos from the scene showed the bus engulfed in flames, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky as it burned under an overpass. Witnesses reported that the bus crashed into a concrete barrier dividing the highway, after a front tyre burst. The bus was quickly consumed by an intense fire, and many on board were unable to escape.

The bus driver initially attempted to extinguish the flames but fled the scene. Local media later reported that the driver turned himself in to police 100km (61 miles) north of Bangkok.

A total of 19 children and three teachers survived the accident, with 16 of the survivors currently receiving treatment in hospital for their injuries. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit expressed concern over the bus being powered by compressed natural gas (CNG), calling it "extremely risky." He stated, "The ministry must explore measures, if possible, to ban passenger vehicles like this from using such fuel due to the dangers involved."

Piyalak Thinkaew, who led the search and recovery effort, said identifying the bodies was difficult due to the extent of the burns. “Some of the bodies we found were very small,” he said. “The fire started at the front of the bus, and the children instinctively tried to escape to the back, where we found most of the bodies.”

Forensic police reported that of the 23 bodies recovered, 11 were male, 7 female, and 5 were unidentifiable due to the severity of the burns. The ages of the children on board remain unclear, but the school caters to pupils between the ages of 3 and 15.

Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Anutin Charnvirakul, confirmed that an investigation was underway. "We are examining tyre marks, burn traces, and CCTV footage to understand the cause of the crash," he said.

Thailand has one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, with unsafe vehicles and poor driving contributing to approximately 20,000 deaths annually.

Source / Image Credit : BBC , I understand you and I love you