Van goes up in flames in Buriram, passengers unharmed

A terrifying fire turned a 13-seat passenger van into a fireball along the Buriram-Nang Rong Road, but in a miraculous twist, all six passengers, including a young schoolchild, made a lucky escape without a scratch.

The fiery incident erupted on Tuesday, November 19, at 4pm, triggering a rapid response from the brave Mueang Buriram Police and firefighters. The heroic team battled the furious flames for 20 gripping minutes before finally extinguishing the inferno.

The driver, 62 year old Boonthan Yophothi, was temporarily replacing the regular driver who was on leave. Unfortunately, the vehicle had not undergone a routine mechanical inspection before setting off. After collecting passengers in Nakhon Ratchasima and dropping some at the Buriram Bus Terminal, the van burst into flames around 5 kilometres into its return journey to Nakhon Ratchasima.

Boonthan recounted his experience, noticing smoke emerging from the engine before stopping the van to safely evacuate the passengers.

“I saw smoke coming from the engine and quickly stopped to get everyone out before the fire spread.”

Subsequent explosions rattled the scene, attributed to the van’s use of NGV fuel.

The passengers, five women and one man were understandably shaken but relieved to be safe. Firefighters arrived promptly to tackle the blaze, although the van was entirely consumed by the fire by the time it was extinguished, reported Pattaya News.

Police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the fire. They have also issued a reminder to transport operators about the critical importance of conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure the safety of passengers.