2024 Lam Luk Ka bus crash
 Firefighters extinguishing the bus in flame | |
 | |
| Date | 1 October 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | 12:29 ICT (UTC+07:00) |
| Location | Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Khu Khot, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province, Thailand |
| Deaths | 23[1] |
On 1 October 2024, a bus carrying students and teachers crashed and caught fire while travelling on an outbound lane of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Khu Khot, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province across from Soi Phahonyothin 72 alley[2] resulting in 23 deaths, 20 of which were school students.[1]
The bus was carrying 44 passengers, 38 school students from pre-school to middle school years and 6 teachers. Initial reports stated one of the bus's tyres exploded resulting in the vehicle losing control and crashing into a roadside barrier. A fire began in the lower section of the bus, which was powered by natural gas.[3] Of those on board, 16 teachers and 3 students escaped. The remaining 23 passengers would later be confirmed dead.[4]
Background
[edit]Thailand has one of the highest traffic fatality rates in the world, attributed to unsafe vehicle and reckless driving. Annual deaths attributed to traffic are approximately 20,000.[5]
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The crash was the latest in a series of recent incidents involving school buses in the region. On 1 March 2024, a school bus crashed into a lorry in Dan Khun Thot District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province causing one fatality. On 11 August 2018, a school bus-for-hire crashed into a tree in Tak Bai District, Narathiwat Province leaving 10 people dead.[6]
The bus belonged to a bus-for-hire company Chinbut Tour (ชินบุตรทัวร์)[7] and was one of the three buses travelling from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School (โรงเรียนวัดเขาพระยาสังฆาราม), a public school in Lan Sak District, Uthai Thani Province for a field trip which includes stops at Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Ayutthaya Province and an EGAT centre in Nonthaburi Province. Registered in Saraburi Province, the bus that crashed was the second in the caravan.[3][2] On board were 44 passengers consisting of 6 teachers and 38 school students.
Crash
[edit]The bus was engulfed in flame at 12:29 pm UTC+07:00 while traveling outbound on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Khu Khot, Lam Luk Ka District, Pathum Thani Province at a section between Zeer Rangsit shopping centre and the Thai National Memorial. According to an initial report, the bus's tyre exploded causing the vehicle to crash into a roadside barrier before bursting into flames which began in the bottom portion of the bus.[2][3]
A survivor said that the doors were not working as passengers tried to flee.
The bus driver initially fled the scene with authorities being unable to contact him. He turned himself in later that day at a police station in Wiset Chai Chan District, Ang Thong Province.[8] According to CCTV footage, the driver opened the door at the driver's side and ran to open doors on the middle, then the rear of the bus. However none of the doors were able to open despite his attempts. He eventually ran to the back of the flaming bus and was shown in a TikTok video using a fire extinguisher handed to him by a bystander.[9]
Victims
[edit]There were 23 people confirmed dead in the crash,[1] 20 of them students, three from Prathom [or primary] 1, two from Prathom two, six from Prathom 3, six from Prathom 4, and three from Matthayom [secondary] 3) grade levels. The remaining three victims were teachers, one of whom a trainee teacher.
Eight were injured on site; with two taken to Pat Rangsit Hospital, and the remaining six referred to a local branch of Rajvithi Hospital[2]
Responses
[edit]Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her condolences to the incidence and plans to visit the victims, clearing her other upcoming schedules.[10][11]
Many internet users, including Praiwan "Parry" Wannabut commented on the crash calling for long distance field trips with young school children to be halted.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "เปิดรายชื่อ นักเรียน-ครู 23 ราย เสียชีวิตจากเหตุรถบัสไปทัศนศึกษาไฟไหม้". Thairath (in Thai). 2024-10-01.
- ^ a b c d "ด่วน! ไฟไหม้รถบัสนักเรียนนำเที่ยวเจ็บ-ตายนับ 10 คน". ThaiPBS (in Thai). 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ a b c "ไฟไหม้รถบัสนักเรียนหน้าเซียร์รังสิต เรารู้อะไรแล้วบ้าง". BBC Thai (in Thai). 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ head, Jonathan (2024-10-01). "Twenty children dead after Thailand school bus fire". BBC News.
- ^ Head, Jonathan (2024-10-01). "More than 20 children feared dead in Thailand bus crash". BBC News. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Rattanabanthoeng, Yotkrai (2024-10-01). ""กี่ชีวิต ถึงพอ?" ไฟไหม้รถบัสซ้ำรอย ถอดบทเรียน สู่ระบบ "ปลอดภัย"". TNN (in Thai). Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ ""ไฟไหม้รถบัสล่าสุด" เจ้าของยืนยันพร้อมรับผิดชอบ เร่งเยียวยาผู้เสียหาย". Thansettakij. 2024-10-01.
- ^ "คนขับรถบัสทัศนศึกษา โผล่มอบตัวที่ สภ.วิเศษชัยชาญ จ.อ่างทอง ตำรวจคุมสอบเข้ม". Bangkok Biz News (in Thai). 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ "เปิดนาที คนขับ ลงจากรถบัสไฟไหม้ พยายามเปิดประตูฉุกเฉิน หาถังดับเพลิงช่วย (คลิป)". Matichon (in Thai). 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ "นายกฯอิ๊งค์ เศร้า ยกเลิกทุกภารกิจ ลงพื้นที่ตรวจสอบรถบัสทัศนศึกษาไฟไหม้ด้วยตัวเอง". AMARIN TV (in Thai). 2024-10-01.
- ^ Nilloung, Nutcha (2024-10-01). ""นายกฯ-บิ๊กต่าย" ตรวจไฟไหม้รถบัสสั่งการช่วยเหลือด่วน". INN News (in Thai).
- ^ "รถบัสไฟไหม้ 25 ศพ ชาวเน็ตสลด! จี้ยกเลิกทัศนศึกษา" (in Thai). 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-01.