Thai bus blaze driver turns himself in after fiery escape

The driver behind the wheel in yesterday’s tragic bus blaze in Pathum Thani province turned himself in after initially fleeing from the devastating fire. He sought refuge at a relative’s home. A survival teacher defended the bus driver saying he made efforts to save all the victims before fleeing in a panic.

The tragic incident occurred at around 12pm yesterday, October 1, when a fire broke out on a coach carrying 44 students and teachers on a field trip. The students, aged between three and 14 years old, were visiting Ayutthaya Historical Park and were travelling to another destination in Nonthaburi when the fire occurred.

It was reported that a tyre on the bus burst, causing the driver to lose control and crash into a traffic barrier. Sparks from the collision ignited a fire that engulfed the vehicle. Reports state that between 23 and 25 students and teachers lost their lives in the blaze, while 19 others managed to survive, with some sustaining severe injuries.

Three injured students were admitted to PatRangsit Hospital, with two of them in critical condition. Doctors informed DailyNews that one young girl suffered burns to her face, eyes, mouth, and right arm. She was struggling to breathe and at risk of losing her sight.

Public sentiment was further stirred when the lifeless body of a teacher, Kanokwan Sriphong, was found in the vehicle, clutching a young student in her arms in a final act of protection. Netizens praised her for shielding her student from the flames until her final moments.

Two other teachers who perished in the incident were Pimthong Sombat and Saranya Homkasem. The list of deceased students includes:

• Seven years old students: Teerapong, Patinya, and Atchara
• Nine year old students: Nattaphong, Peeraphat, Ong-art, Archawin, and Titipa
• Ten year old students: Chakrit, Nataphat, Thanakrit, Bowonsak, and Ritthawat
• 14 year old students: Sirinat and Kritsada
• 15 year old students: Parnnarin, Pimchanok, Sunisa, and Pirachat

Driver helps before fleeing

Eight other students narrowly escaped danger, who had signed up for the field trip but did not attend due to illness or urgent matters.

The bus driver, later identified as 48 year old Saman Chanphut, was not present at the scene when the emergency services arrived. Saman reportedly fled after the fire, prompting widespread condemnation from netizens for his perceived reckless actions.

However, the news Facebook page Esor News later shared a video showing Saman, wearing a striped shirt and carrying a red fire extinguisher, attempting to extinguish the fire. This video corroborated his claim that he tried to save the victims.

A teacher who survived the incident also insisted that the bus driver tried to help before he disappeared from the scene.

Following public pressure, Saman eventually turned himself in at Wiset Chai Chan Police Station in the central province of Ang Thong last night. Officers immediately transferred him to Khu Khot Police Station, which is handling the case, for questioning and legal proceedings.

Saman claimed that he been driving the bus at around 70 to 80 kilometres per hour when he felt one of the wheels fall into a hole in the road. He was unsure whether it was the tyre or the air spring that burst but he lost control of the vehicle, causing it to veer to the right and collide with a Mercedes-Benz sedan.

According to Saman, he attempted to regain control after the crash but failed. The bus then hit a traffic barrier, and the fire broke out. Saman said he exited the vehicle to retrieve fire extinguishers from two other buses to put out the fire.

Saman stated that the fire became more intense, causing him to panic and flee the scene. He hid at a relative’s house in Ang Thong before deciding to turn himself in.

Saman initially faces two charges:

• Section 291 of the Criminal Law: negligence causing death. The penalty for this offence is imprisonment for up to 10 years and a fine of up to 200,000 baht.
• Section 78 and 160 of the Land Transport Act: failing to assist as appropriate after causing damage to other people or their properties while driving. The penalty is imprisonment of up to three months, a fine from 2,000 to 1,000 baht, or both.

UPDATE 1: Death toll in bus blaze tragedy rises to 25, 22 students, 3 teachers

The death toll from a devastating bus blaze tragedy today on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Pathum Thani province near Bangkok has soared to 25. Among the victims were 22 young students and three teachers.

According to a grim update by KhaoSod, the ill-fated coach was packed with 44 students, aged between three and nine, along with their devoted teachers from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani. The group was eagerly heading to a field trip to Ayutthaya Historical Park and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Learning Centre in Nonthaburi.

Disaster struck when a tyre burst mid-journey, causing the driver to lose control of the bus. The vehicle then careened into a traffic barrier in the right lane, igniting a catastrophic fire that would claim the lives of so many.

The media reported that the students from the school were travelling in three separate buses, and the fire broke out on bus number 3.

After extinguishing the fire, rescuers examined the bus and discovered the tragic sight of more than 10 victims lying lifeless near the emergency exits and other car doors.

Initially, Thai news agencies reported that 10 students lost their lives in the incident, 19 others managed to escape, while 15 remained missing.

The latest update from KhaoSod at around 2pm revealed that 25 victims were killed in the bus fire, including 22 students and three teachers. Their ages and identities have not yet been disclosed. There has been no report regarding the coach driver.

PM breaks down in tears.

A surviving teacher told KhaoSod that she tried to evacuate each student but the doors would not open leaving many students and teachers trapped inside the vehicle.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra reportedly broke down in tears upon hearing the news after a parliamentary meeting. She later cancelled her schedule and planned to visit the hospital to meet the victims. PM Paetongtarn shared this on her X (Twitter) account…

“I am aware of the fire on the bus from Uthai Thani, which was carrying students on a field trip when the fire broke out on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, near Bangkok, resulting in multiple deaths and injuries.

As a mother, I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased. As the head of the government, I assigned Anutin Charnvirakul, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, and Sabida Thaiseth to rush to the scene. The government will ensure that all medical treatment and compensation for the affected families are fully provided.”

One family, whose eight year old son Ong-art Jaisaen was on the trip, came forward to urge ThaiRath to share a missing poster of the boy, as they were desperate to know if he was safe. Many netizens sent their wishes for his safe return and hoped he would soon be reunited with his family.

ORIGINAL STORY: BREAKING: 10 Thai kindergarten students killed in bus blaze

Ten kindergarten students tragically lost their lives, and many others were injured, after a fire broke out on a coach during a school field trip outside Zeer Rangsit mall on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in Pathum Thani province, near Bangkok.

The blaze, which erupted on the coach at around 12.20pm today, October 1, was reported by the Facebook page Fire & Rescue Thailand. The ill-fated bus was carrying enthusiastic students from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in the central province of Uthai Thani, aged between four and five years old.

The group was en route to a highly anticipated field trip when disaster struck. Of the 42 teachers and pupils on board, only 19 managed to escape the inferno in time.

Firefighters from the Hongskul Khlong Luang 21 Rescue Foundation swiftly closed the road and battled the fierce flames. Although the blaze has now been brought under control, rescuers have yet to inspect the interior of the bus for safety reasons.

According to a report from KhaoSod, ten kindergarten students were pronounced dead at the scene, and many others were injured. The identities and ages of the victims have not yet been disclosed.

The Facebook news page Ton News, also known as Khon Khao Prakan, reported at about 1.10pm that six injured victims were rushed to the hospital.

KhaoSod added that the students were on their way to the Ayutthaya Historical Park in the central province of Ayutthaya and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Learning Centre in the central province of Nonthaburi.

It is believed the cause of the fire was sparked when a tyre burst, making the bus crash into a traffic barrier.

More news when we get it.

In related news, a fire erupted at a work camp behind the Government Savings Bank in Phuket yesterday leading to a swift response from local officials.

Police and firefighters were alerted to the incident around 11.14am, yesterday, September 30, by Samphan Somsakon, the owner of the house where the fire originated. Samphan explained that he had been charging a power bank inside the house and had stepped outside to rest in a nearby hut.

Shortly after, a loud noise emanated from inside the house. Upon investigation, Samphan discovered the house was engulfed in flames. Despite his efforts to douse the fire with water, it spread rapidly, prompting him to call for help.