Thailand: Over 20 Children Die in School Bus Blaze

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Facts

  • At least 23 people died Tuesday on the outskirts of Bangkok when a natural gas-run bus went up in flames while carrying over 40 students and teachers on a field trip.[1]
  • The accident reportedly took place at 12.38 pm local time, killing the students of the Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School from Thailand's Uthai Thani province.[2]
  • Local media reported that the crash resulted from a ruptured tire that caused the double-decker bus to scrape a metal barrier, setting fire to the gas tank.[3]
  • Bus driver Saman Chanput fled but later surrendered to the police and has been charged with reckless driving. He admitted to failing to put out the fire despite using a fire extinguisher taken from another bus but denies claims that he was driving dangerously.[4]
  • Police officials said that the children's families were taken to Bangkok's Police General Hospital Wednesday to collect DNA samples to identify the victims' bodies.[4]

Sources: [1]Reuters, [2]Daily Mail, [3]Guardian and [4]Independent.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Thonbeck and Thailand Business News. This tragic incident draws attention not only to Thailand's subpar road conditions but also to the use of natural gas vehicles. Despite their environmental benefits, these types of vehicles can pose significant dangers, as even minor impacts can cause the high-pressure tanks to explode catastrophically. With one of the highest road fatality rates in the world, it's time that Thailand overhauls its safety regulations, traffic laws, and road conditions.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Pensacolaenergy and CNN. This incident must indeed be examined, but it shouldn't be used as a tool to discredit natural gas vehicles, which have proven to be remarkably safe over the decades. With over 12M of these vehicles worldwide, fatalities have been particularly low, and rigorous testing has consistently demonstrated them to be safe. And while Thailand's road conditions must be addressed, they shouldn't be used as a scapegoat for drivers' reckless behavior.

Predictions