It’s been confirmed that a bus carrying dozens of primary school children has crashed and caught fire just outside the Thai capital Bangkok.
Sixteen children and three teachers have been reported to have escaped, but 22 pupils and three teachers are still unaccounted for, according to the country’s transport minister.
Officials say they have found ten bodies on the bus.
The bus was one of three that were carrying children and teachers returning from a school field trip in the northern province of Uthai Thani.
According to the Transport Minister Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit the bus was powered by compressed natural gas.
“This is a very tragic incident,” Mr Suriyahe told reporters at the scene.
“The ministry must find a measure… if possible, for passenger vehicles like this to be banned from using this type of fuel because it’s extremely risky,” he added.
Thailand’s prime minister, meanwhile, has ordered ministers to visit the scene.
“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest regrets to the families of those killed,” Paetongtarn Shinawatra said.
“The government will be responsible for all the medical costs and the compensation for those killed,” she added.
The bus was travelling on a highway into Bangkok when a tyre burst, sending it crashing into a barrier, a rescue worker said in footage broadcast on local television.
