Fire Erupts on School Bus During Field Trip, All Students Safe

Trat – A bus carrying students on a field trip caught fire in its rear compartment just moments before reaching their school in Bo Rai district. Fortunately, all students and teachers escaped unharmed.

The incident occurred on Monday as a double-decker bus transported 35 students and seven teachers back to Chumchon Wat Bor Ploy Ratrangsant School after their trip. The fire broke out less than 10 kilometers from the school.

According to the Sawang Boonchuayluea Thammasathan Trat rescue unit, the bus driver, Methee Phosi, acted swiftly by stopping the vehicle and opening all doors, including emergency exits, allowing passengers to evacuate safely.

Before the fire, students had complained about poor air circulation. Soon after, smoke and flames were spotted at the rear of the bus. The driver suspected a short-circuit in the air-conditioning system as the cause of the fire.

The bus was part of a convoy transporting Prathom 6 students on a field trip to Thammachat Bay in Laem Ngob district.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about school transport safety. The Education Ministry has reinforced strict safety measures following a tragic incident in October last year when a school bus from Uthai Thani caught fire, killing 23 people, including 20 students. As a precaution, long-distance trips for elementary school students are now discouraged.