Many feared dead after fire on school bus in Thailand
GuardianSep 25
Thailand: Over 20 Children Die in School Bus Blaze
story
Above: Kindergarteners and teachers on a field trip to Bangkok when the school bus crashed and caught fire on October 1, 2024. Twenty students died in the accident. Image copyright: Peerapon Boonyakiat/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The 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.
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.
The Spin
Narrative A
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
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.
