25 feared dead as school bus carrying 44 catches fire in Thailand

PTC News Desk: At least 25 people are feared dead as a devastating fire tore through a Thai bus carrying 44 students and teachers on a school trip Tuesday.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed there were fatalities and expressed condolences to the victims' families.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit said the number of fatalities was unknown, but 25 people were missing after the fire. 

"According to initial reports, there are 44 on board, including 38 students and six teachers. As far as we know, three teachers and 16 students escaped," he said. "For those still missing, we are not clear yet."

The bus was carrying students from Uthai Thani province when a tyre burst on a highway in a northern Bangkok suburb, causing the vehicle to crash into a barrier.

According to the rescue worker, the bus was running on compressed gas when it crashed, which ignited its fuel tanks.

Flames engulfed the bus as it burned under a flyover, sending massive clouds of dense black smoke into the sky.

"I have learnt of the fire on a bus carrying students from Uthai Thani... resulting in deaths and injuries," Paetongtarn posted on X, formerly Twitter. "As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased."

The fire has been out, but rescuers have to wait for the bus to cool before searching for bodies, according to a rescue worker.