Bangkok, AP — In a devastating incident, Thai police have arrested the driver of a bus that caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 23 individuals, including young students and teachers, in suburban Bangkok. Families of the victims traveled to the capital on Wednesday to assist in the identification of their loved ones.
The bus, carrying six teachers and 39 students from Uthai Thani province, was en route to a school trip in Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi when the tragedy occurred. The fire erupted on a highway north of Bangkok and spread rapidly, leaving many unable to escape. Trairong Phiwpan, head of the police forensic department, reported that recovery efforts were hampered as the burned vehicle, fueled by natural gas, remained too hot to enter for several hours.
Families who came to identify the victims were driven from Uthai Thani to the forensic department at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok to provide DNA samples for the identification process. Kornchai Klaiklung, assistant to the Royal Thai Police chief, assured the public that forensics teams were working diligently to identify the victims.
The driver, identified as Saman Chanput, surrendered to authorities hours after the fire. He has been charged with reckless driving causing deaths and injuries, failing to assist others, and not reporting the accident. According to police, Chanput claimed he was driving normally until the bus lost balance due to a front right tire issue, struck another vehicle, and scraped a concrete barrier, causing sparks that ignited the blaze. He reported that he attempted to retrieve a fire extinguisher from another bus but was unable to extinguish the fire, leading him to flee in panic.
Authorities are also investigating whether the bus company adhered to safety regulations. Songwit Chinnaboot, the owner of the bus company, stated that the bus underwent biannual safety inspections and that the gas cylinders met safety standards. He expressed a commitment to compensate the victims’ families as best as possible.
Three students remain hospitalized, with two in serious condition. One 7-year-old girl has suffered burns to her face, and medical staff are working to preserve her eyesight.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences via social media and assured that the government would cover medical expenses and support the victims’ families. During a visit to the injured in the hospital, she was visibly emotional, reflecting on the tragic loss.
This incident has sparked renewed concerns over the safety of children traveling long distances on roads notorious for high traffic accident rates. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 20,000 people are killed and one million are injured in road accidents in Thailand each year.
