Thai police have taken into custody the driver of a school bus that tragically caught fire and claimed the lives of 23 individuals near Bangkok. Families have begun arriving to assist in the identification process of the victims.
The bus was transporting six teachers and 39 students from Uthai Thani province for a school excursion to Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi provinces. The fire broke out on a highway north of Bangkok and spread rapidly, resulting in a devastating loss of lives.
Trairong Phiwpan, head of the police forensic department, confirmed the recovery of 23 bodies from the burnt bus. The identification process was initially hindered due to the intense heat emitted by the bus, which was fuelled by natural gas.
Families from Uthai Thani were ferried to the forensic department at the Police General Hospital in Bangkok to provide DNA samples for the identification efforts. Kornchai Klaiklung, assistant to the Royal Thai Police chief, assured reporters that the forensic team was diligently working to identify the victims.
The driver, identified as Saman Chanput, turned himself in several hours after the incident. He faces charges of reckless driving, failure to assist those in need, and failure to report the accident. The driver recounted that the fire was sparked when the bus lost balance, hit another vehicle, and struck a highway barrier.
Authorities are also looking into whether the bus company adhered to all safety protocols. In an interview, the company owner stated that the bus underwent biannual safety inspections as mandated, and the gas cylinders met safety standards. He pledged to compensate the families of the victims.
Currently, three students remain hospitalised, with two in critical condition. A young girl, aged 7, suffered facial burns, and medical professionals are striving to preserve her eyesight.
The investigation continues into this devastating incident as the community mourns the lives lost in this tragic school bus fire.