Answered2 years ago
What happened in the tragic school bus fire in Bangkok?
For those who haven't heard, a school bus carrying 38 teachers and students caught fire in Bangkok today. 20 students and 3 teachers died. The bus driver fled the scene and police are still looking for him.
Absolutely awful for such a tragic loss of life, especially something so preventable. RIP to the families.
Absolutely awful for such a tragic loss of life, especially something so preventable. RIP to the families.
Answer summary
A tragic incident occurred in Bangkok where a school bus carrying 38 teachers and students caught fire, resulting in the death of 20 students and 3 teachers. The bus driver fled but later surrendered to the police. The community reacted with shock and sorrow, discussing the preventable nature of the tragedy, the responsibilities of the driver, and the adequacy of safety measures on the bus. Many expressed condolences for the victims and their families, while others debated on the circumstances leading to such disasters.
146 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
Khun ****
Very sad! Condolences to all the bereaved families and May all the souls of deceased rest in peace. 🙏🙏🙏
Halil **************
Çok üzüldük. Tayland halkına ve ailelerine sabırlar dilerim. Çocuklar ve öğretmenleri melek oldu.
Patrick *****
This is heartbreaking and so sad
Bart ************
Deadly road accidents, and especially with busses, happen too often in Thailand 😢 When will the Ministry of Transport & Road Traffic plus the relevant enforcement bodies do something about this???
Toni ********
🙏 prayers to the families so tragic
Sam ******************
😢😭
Rene ********
Rip...... I think I'll take the flight to Bangkok
Malek *******
Nick ************
The bus was cobbled together with parts from several vehicles including isuzu and was basically a bomb waiting to go off. It was wearing false Mercedes Benz badges. I am not just heartbroken but also angry. I hope someone pays dearly for this tragedy and not neccessarily the driver. The root cause was probably a defective tyre not checked for years .
Knocker *******
Spent over 20 years in Thailand...used a mini bus once for a Visa...Run...never again my wife used to travel regularly from Surrat- Thanne to HUA HIN...the way the buses drive and lack of maintenance is astounding...alterations to everything speakers and lights wired into every space...and no MOTs
Jan *************
oh no RIP
Ernie *******
Kids just starting their lives & some teachers helping them down that path. BRUTAL! So sorry for those lost lives & families/friends that are left to grieve. RIP
Kaleem ***************
So sad 😢 really heart breaking 😭
Niem *****
it;s so sad, wish them rest in peace
Stephen ********
I heard the safty exits failed
Nick ************
@Frank *************
Udon is a nightmare to drive in especially at the roundabouts.
Kev **********
Interesting to see the investigation report. Some comments on the LNG installation.
But will see. It is of course very sad..but will there be any learning from this? This morning in Udon Thani must drive as if they want to get killed. Shopping centre exhibition hall still lock fire exits...they say to me but there are enough doors to get out of...despite the doors indicating fire exit.
It's shameful in such a wonderful place.
But will see. It is of course very sad..but will there be any learning from this? This morning in Udon Thani must drive as if they want to get killed. Shopping centre exhibition hall still lock fire exits...they say to me but there are enough doors to get out of...despite the doors indicating fire exit.
It's shameful in such a wonderful place.
Travis **********
My fiancé use to be a teacher there
Beverley *******
This is terrible. Horrible way to die.
Frozan *******
Why didn’t they open the doors to let them out? I don’t get it. What’s the point of so many fire drills if you don’t actually follow those drills in real life. Such a horrible tragedy 😓 My heart goes out to the families.
Garrett ***********
OP@Frozan ******
There are no doors on the back of the bus. The fire appears to have started in the middle.Frozan *******
@Garrett **********
The side doors? Idk, I’m sure the teachers inside tried everything in theory power to get out too. This is just devastating 😭Frozan *******
@Garrett **********
wow!Garrett ***********
OP@Frozan ******
The side doors are on the first level, down the stairs well. The passengers sit on the 2nd level. If the fire was below they wouldn't have been able to access the stairwell leading to the side doors.
Robert ***********
Very sad r.i.p 🙏
Chris *********************
UTHAI school trip not far from where I live.
RIP 🙏 very sad.
RIP 🙏 very sad.
Shelley ********
🙏🙏🙏
Graham ***********
Rip so very sad may you angels fly high in heaven ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Barry *******
So sad
Stu ********
God bless ❤️
Gid ********
R.I.P.
Owen *******
Deepest condolences to the families🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽😢😢
Gary *********
Rip to all who sadly lost their lives..and all the keyboard detectives keep your thoughts to yourself..
Tony ******
Very sad news
Angelo ***********
The fire happened at an odd place in the bus. Why nearly no one got out, is unknown at this moment. And the whole thing is most likely not the drivers fault. Why he ran away: no idea.
Dave **********
RIP.. tragic, tragic incident.
Wanneeta **********
หนีทำไม?เทอไม่มีจิตใจที่จะหันกลับไปช่วยน้องๆเลยเหรอ หรือว่าจ่างด่างไม่มีใบขับรถ
David *********
Enjoying life one minute next minute your dead. Just so so sad. Brings tears to my eyes
Kenneth ********
Extremely sad
Martin *******
The problem when something.like this happens there is never an investigation to find the real cause & make sure it never happens again, Thai's dont, but should believe in maintenance of public service vehicles
Peter **********
@Martin ******
thats what Martin Head said on BBC, criticisesef the govt for never doing anything abour road safetyMartin *******
@Peter *********
The govt being Thai have the same lack of road sense as the rest of them & they see no wrong in it, & so it will continue
CE ******
RIP 🙏🙏🙏
Peter ********
OMG. Dreadful. What on earth caught fire? The diesel? Then the seats? I better not comment. It’s too horrible to even discuss.
Kev **********
@Peter *******
some safety issue. L N G gas Installation being hinted at...but will see..if they properly investigatePeter ********
@Kev *********
That would fit. Terrible.
Terry *********
My condolences to all the families that have lost loved ones in this tragedy, may their souls rest in peace.
Nick ********
Just horrible news , rip beautiful babies
Maxine *******
Heartbreaking prayers for all family's involved 😪
Martin **********
RIP 🙏🙏
Amit *******
It's really so sad. No words for their families. RIP
Joe *******
So tragic and heartbreaking 💔
Ellen *************
This is just so awful 😞
John *********************
So sad
Varsha *********
Do sad..... Courage to the parents n the teachers families who lost their dear ones
Laurie *****
🙏😭
ضخةبقهنة ********
Tony ********
So sad pray for them and families 🙏🙏🙏
Steve **********
RIP 🙏
Mel ******
Heartbreaking 💔 xxx
Parvaze *******
Rip
Sylvia ********
Very sad day for Thailand, prayers for all families and rescue workers 🙏
Wayne *********
🙏🙏🙏🙏
Manuela *********
Heartbreaking 😭😭
Rohit *********
Rip
Hendrik ************
I saw the video and not understand why outside people did not help more and tried to destroy the Backglass or side windows...
Cameron *******
@Hendrik ***********
also these kids were 3 to 5 years they most likely didn't know what to do in an emergency unfortunately here this would also include the teachers.Sylvia ********
@Hendrik ***********
most children were upstairs, thus has 2 floorsHendrik ************
@Sylvia *******
drive your car next to the bus .go on top of your cars roof and destroy the windows ...
Inigo *********
@Jan ***************
yeah pretty sure buses in the UK all have those little hammers next to the back window
Jan ****************
@Hendrik ***********
Where were the saftyhammers for breaking the glass, are teachers educated to handle emergecucases like this? My wife is a teacher and she said that she did not know what to do if that happen, i ordered a safetyhammer right away to take with her when she go travel with school.Hendrik ************
@Sylvia *******
if so..the bus would have been exploded ..but it burnt down ....I read a lot of words for excuses....
Hendrik ************
@Sel ****
why ..easy to do ...Sylvia ********
@Hendrik ***********
these buses run on gas bottles, once they explode i don't think you could drive beside the bus??
Sel *****
@Hendrik ***********
easy to say
John *******
Not a school bus. Rented and the driver probably owns it.
Tom *********
If you are going to post at least get the facts correct. It was 44 students and teachers, of which the bodies of 20 students and 3 teachers have been recovered from the bus. The driver has also turned himself in to police in Khu Khot.
Garrett ***********
OP@Tom ********
Calm down Mr. fake. Bkk post reported 38. Have a other source?
Tijana ****************
@Garrett **********
bkk post is a joke of journalism
Richard ******
That's horrible news.
My heart goes out to the people affected.
My heart goes out to the people affected.
Carlo ******
Rip 🌹🌹🌹
Wolfgang *******
Sadness and prayers from all over mankind 🥲🥲🥲
Michael ********
Apart from driver inside those seats from pictures & videos I have seen are highly flammable. Very much doubt there are regulations on this. Hopefully that can change.
Heartbreaking all those kids.
Heartbreaking all those kids.
Benjamin ********
Just watching the news now at home in Bangkok sad news !
RIP to all lost ❤️🙏🏼
RIP to all lost ❤️🙏🏼
Andre *************
So sad
Jeff *****
Tragic .. Rest in peace and comfort to the families of the deceased
Neil ********
Apparently bus driver found or handed himself in and is being transported back to BKK.
Such a sad state of affairs
Such a sad state of affairs
Angelo ***********
@Neil *******
What has it to do with the driver if the bus for some reason catches fire?
Steven ********
@Angelo **********
all drivers are responsible for the vehicle that they put on the road. But here in Thailand company bosses ie manager o the bus company put profits before what is safe for road useSteven ********
Angelo ***********
@Steven *******
I suggest to ride a bus once. Your comment is completely unappropriated. The buses are as safe as in Germany. No damn difference. Perhaps even more safe, but in Thailand you have a Gazzillion of busses running and in Germany only a few. The bus here is a Mercedes. And some poster above thinks "authorities have to be informed" if a bus is switched from Diesel/Gazoline to Nat Gas. The damn bus comes with nat gas out of the factory. Why being or pretending to be in Thailand, if you hate the country so much?Except for ultra old buses, like the "red ones" in Bangkok, all transport runs on Nat Gas, every damn Taxi is a Nat Gas/electric hybrid.
From the pictures of the bus, you can see, it was in perfect condition.
Andy *********
@Angelo **********
the bus had been converted to gas without informing relavent authorities - allegedly - might explain a few things 🤔Angelo ***********
Those buses simply do not have enough exists. Kind of awkward to know a bus holds about 50 people, and half of them died in something that likely was avoidable. But when panic sets in, such situations simply are awkward.
Neil ********
@Angelo **********
for a start he is responsible for all those on board. Second there were 100 metre skid marks so obviously driving irresponsibly and you never leave the scene of an accident b
Tracey ********
@Neil *******
the bus blew a tyre. That would make skid marks. It's happened to me years ago with a blow tyre. This was also reported on newsAngelo ***********
@Neil *******
The news did not report what caused the fire.Neil ********
@Angelo **********
as reported on the news.Angelo ***********
@Neil *******
100m skid marks? That would resolve into something like 400km/h speed. We have of course German busses (flex) that easy can do 400km/h. Well ... considering that the bus in question was a German bus ...And how can a harsh break, no matter how long the marks, can cause a fire?
Tony *********
So sad
Vinny **************
😪🙏🙏🙏
MJ ****
The driver is in the police station now in Khukot.
Joel ********
Absolutely horrible 😔
Tina ********
😨😱😭😭😭
Transitvan ******
Uneducated drivers, and ...
William ******
@Transitvan *****
people should not pre judge. Yes, Thailand has a very bad road safety record, but remember none driver responsibly accidents can & do happen as elsewhere in the world.
My sincere condolences to all the families affected, May the deceased RIP.
Tony **********
@Transitvan *****
A tire blew out making the bus hit a concrete barrier .Thats what i heard ,so not the drivers fault if true .You said that he was uneducated .If he had a University degree it would not have helped any .Garrett ***********
OP@Tony *********
You saw the pictures, how does side swiping the barriers cause the bus to catch fire? There isn't even any visible damage to the front of the bus.Tony **********
@Garrett **********
So think the driver set the bus on fire deliberately ? That would be extremely unlikely .Somehow a fuel line broke then sparks from the impact set the fire off .In truth i do not know ,,,,,and i am just speculating .I have seen in the past lots of crashes resulting in fires ...There is also the possibility that the driver fell asleep at the wheel .
Euan ********
@Tony *********
I read that the driver changed lanes and hit a mercedes causing both vehicles to hit the barrier.Tony **********
@Euan *******
A burst tire ,would make the bus do that .
Kenneth ***********
How sad
Silambarasan ********
Rip
Arun ********
He surrendered himself at the nearby police station..and 38 in total were in the bus😭🥹
Leon ****
@Arun *******
driver went look for fire extinguisher when he back to bus. Fire already out of control.Arun ********
Garrett ***********
OP@Leon ***
Yeah okey.Garrett ***********
OP@Arun *******
You're right, 38 not 48. I corrected it.
Ronald *********
It made the BBC news in the UK today.
Marc ***********
Please stop showing these. Think of the family and relatives.
Inigo *********
@Marc **********
showing what? Pictures of a burned-out bus? It's not like he's posted pictures of the corpes?
Larry *********
@Marc **********
could have started in the luggage area. Maybe a battery failure. Very intense. Very hot. Very fast. Very hard to prevent.
Harris **********
@Marc **********
It's all over the news every even Chanel and CCTV footage so I don't think this post will do anything adverse to those affected to be honest .Ellen *************
@Marc **********
it’s unlikely they’re in this group and very likely that if they’re concerned they are currently avoiding social media and all media.
Chris *****
@Marc **********
with all due respect, the chances of family being part of a visa group are slim to none.Garrett ***********
OP@Marc **********
it's the internet.AliJames *****
@Garrett **********
also this is a visa group and should have nothing to do with breaking news unless visa related. There are plenty of other Facebook groups where you can post such images and pay your respects.AliJames *****
@Garrett **********
Don't try and turn it. I never said it's offensive, don't make me out to be some sort of snowflake. I said it's distressing, which has a completely different meaning. If you had kids the same age who had died, you'd understand - how would you feel if it a kid you knew well or was close to on that bus and these images kept on getting reposted? Would you want images of that bus burning being shown all over the internet? I am sure I am not the only one with this opinion. I'm going to hide this post now and not comment any further and try and get the images of the burning bus off the "recent media" section out of respect for the dead. I hope in the future you show a little more consideration before posting such images.Garrett ***********
OP@AliJames ****
Why don't you just not look at the pictures then if it bothers you? Why does the entire 73k members of this group have to change the way they receive news and information because it possibly offends you?AliJames *****
@Garrett **********
Sorry but I have to massively disagree with you. You obviously don't have any kids so you wouldn't understand. But to see images of a burning bus knowing that there are children burning alive inside is distressing to some. Especially to me, as I have a daughter in the third grade. Show some consideration. At least remove the photo of the burning bus!Garrett ***********
OP@AliJames ****
First of all, don't tell me what kind of group this is, this is not just a visa group. It's for visas, and everything else. 2nd, just because you've heard of the incident doesn't mean everyone else has.
3rd, if you don't like the pictures dont look at them. Every single incident that happens to anyone in the world, there's a family behind them too. So no pictures of anything ever should be shared?
Angelo ***********
@Garrett **********
And you are moderator: and can delete it.Marc ***********
@Garrett **********
you can be part of the solution or the problem.AliJames *****
@Garrett **********
I think what he's trying to say is pretty much the whole of Thailand has heard this story by now and out of respect for the families such images should not be constantly reposted just for a bit of click fame. Even on this forum. Some of us have young kids in Thailand ourselves.Garrett ***********
OP@Marc **********
I don't want to be a part of the problem, I want to be the whole problem.
Mark *******
That's the norm here.
Natchanan ************
@Mark ******
how ? What do you mean the norm ?
Carl **********
So sad.
Activity
107 joined107
people
Related
25What are the best driving schools in Bangkok for someone with a NON-O visa?
486221y
What are the best Thai language schools in Bangkok for expats on DTV?
2.1k1141y
What are the best martial arts schools in Bangkok that focus on traditional values and philosophy?
1.3k1231y
What should a couple in their late 50s consider before moving part-time to Thailand?
8k62841y
What is a reasonable monthly budget for a single retiree living in Bangkok on an LTR visa?
22.2k1633111y
What are the recommended Thai language schools for expats in Bangkok?
1.7k992y
How safe are visa land border runs using mini-vans in Thailand?
7.1k57702y
What are some affordable Muay Thai schools in Bangkok that won’t scam me?
1.7k1192y
What are the costs of affordable Muay Thai schools in Bangkok?
2.2k1272y
What are the options for luggage storage in Bangkok for travelers?
1.8k10132y
What are reliable transportation options from Bangkok city center to the airport at 4 AM?
8.8k471012y
What are the best public swimming pools in Bangkok for sports swimming?
3.7k15123y
Is studying Thai on an ED visa a viable option in Bangkok, and what language schools are recommended?
1.5k8173y
Can I use my 60-day visa after entering Thailand visa exempt on my first entry?
1.5k10144y
What happened to the missing person in Khao Sok National Park, Thailand?
7.9k451204y
How can I determine taxi charges in Bangkok and what should I know about using the meter?
12.7k1101165y
What are the best luggage storage options in Bangkok?
891515y
What are the best Thai language schools in downtown Bangkok?
2.7k17255y
What are the best language schools in Bangkok for obtaining an ED visa and are they still being approved during COVID?
1.1k775y
Should I fly into Phuket or directly to Bangkok given the current quarantine rules for vaccinated travelers?
931566y
Why are some pools and gyms closed in Bangkok while others remain open?
2.5k19206y
What are some trustworthy language schools in Bangkok for obtaining an ED visa?
1.8k7126y
What is the process for filing a TM.30 in Bangkok?
3.7k26337y
What changes are being made to the Muay Thai ED course at Chakrit Muay Thai School in Bangkok?
55268y
What are some recommended Thai language schools in Bangkok?
1.4k879y
Resources
Need help with your Thai visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served