At Least 25 Feared Dead After School Bus Fire Near Bangkok

A tragic fire engulfed a school bus in suburban Bangkok on Tuesday, leaving at least 25 people feared dead, according to Thai officials and rescue workers.

The bus, carrying 44 students and teachers from Uthai Thani province to Bangkok for a school trip, caught fire around noon in Pathum Thani province, located just north of the capital. Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungruengkit said the blaze spread rapidly before emergency crews could respond.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told reporters that authorities have not yet confirmed the exact number of fatalities as investigations continue, but based on the number of survivors, around 25 people are feared dead.

Videos shared on social media showed the entire bus engulfed in flames with thick black smoke pouring into the air. A rescuer at the scene told officials the fire may have started after a tire burst, causing the vehicle to scrape against a road barrier.

The Hongsakul Khlong Luang 21 rescue group said on Facebook that at least 10 bodies were recovered from the burned bus. Details about the victims, including the ages of the students, have not yet been released.