As Thailand mourns 23 people killed in bus fire, grim accident history returns to spotlight

Thailand’s appalling road safety situation is back in the spotlight as a stunned nation mourns 20 students – and three teachers – who died in a fire after gas tanks in a 50-year-old bus carrying them to Bangkok caught fire.

Following the incident, all field trips across the country were suspended as authorities vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into why a double-decker bus carrying 44 students and teachers quickly caught fire after a tire burst on Tuesday, leaving passengers trapped inside.

Forensic authorities worked Wednesday to identify the remains of child victims of a stun crash. Thailand anew, but raises old questions about why the country has one of the world’s highest road death rates.

Heartbreaking details of the tragedy emerged, including reports of primary school students unable to escape through emergency doors and cowering in the back of the bus or in the arms of young teachers as fire consumed the vehicle.

One disconsolate student whose younger brother was killed on a bus returned to his hometown of Uthai Thani in northern Thailand late on Tuesday, repeatedly shouting “he didn’t come back with me” as his mother hugged him.

Relatives of children killed in a bus crash walk with rescuers arriving to retrieve the bodies in Bangkok, Thailand, October 2. Photo: EPA-EFE

The bus driver initially fled the scene, but turned himself in to authorities on Wednesday. He was arrested and charged with negligence and reckless driving as ministers pledged to prevent similar accidents in the future.