Photo: Chakkrapan Natanri
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra ordered the suspension of services for 13,426 gas-powered passenger buses pending safety inspections, following a tragic school bus fire last week.
The Department of Land Transport (DLT) announced that all buses operating on compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) must undergo inspections by department officials by November 30.
This directive came in response to safety violations linked to the operator of the bus involved in the tragic school field trip fire in Pathum Thani, which resulted in the loss of 20 students and three teachers on October 1.
Additionally, the DLT is coordinating with the Ministry of Education to advise schools against using gas-fueled vehicles for transporting students and teachers until inspections have been completed.
The Ministry of Transport has also mandated nationwide safety inspections for passenger boats, including 108 dining cruises, due to safety protocols associated with cooking gas usage.
Deputy Transport Minister Manaporn Charoensri stated that she has instructed the Marine Department to inspect 15,685 passenger boats after a rise in accidents. Many of these vessels operate on the Chao Phraya River and along the coastal routes to several offshore islands.
Ms. Manaporn emphasized that strict inspections would be implemented in every province. These inspections will cover the vessel’s structural stability, fuel pipeline system, electrical system, engine system, lifesaving equipment, readily accessible firefighting equipment, boat licenses, and operators’ permits.
Boat operators are expected to stay informed about weather forecasts and adhere strictly to sailing regulations, ensuring that no potentially hazardous items are on board.
In Bangkok and its suburbs, 100 public transport boats operate on diesel and biodiesel, while another 35 utilize electric power. Furthermore, there are 52 dining cruises on the Chao Phraya River, for which additional safety measures will be instituted.
These measures include creating separate cooking zones from passenger areas, ensuring an adequate number of fire extinguishers in cooking areas, and restricting the number of cooking gas cylinders allowed on board.