BANGKOK, Thailand: At least eight people were killed and dozens injured on Saturday after a freight train struck a public bus at a rail crossing in central Bangkok, triggering a fire that engulfed the vehicle.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said all the fatalities were passengers on the bus.
At least 32 people were injured and taken to hospitals, according to officials. Bangkok police later said the number of injured had risen to at least 35.
Firefighters and rescue teams were deployed to the scene near Makkasan station close to the Airport Rail Link, where the collision also involved several cars and motorcycles.
The impact and subsequent blaze caused significant damage, with flames spreading to nearby vehicles.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong told reporters that preliminary findings indicated the bus had become stuck on the railway crossing during heavy traffic, preventing safety barriers from fully closing.
He said the freight train, which was carrying containers, was unable to stop in time to avoid the collision. The full cause of the crash remains under investigation.
“All eight dead were on the bus,” Siripong said, adding that injured victims were being treated at multiple hospitals.
Officials said the train struck the bus and dragged several nearby vehicles along the tracks before the bus caught fire.
“The bus was stuck at a red light, so it couldn’t move. Cars were also blocked and unable to move forward,” motorcycle taxi driver Wanthong Kokpho told Reuters.
He added that the fire broke out immediately after the collision.
Firefighters later brought the blaze under control and continued cooling operations while searching for victims, rescue officials said.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered a full investigation into the incident, according to a statement from his office.
Authorities have not confirmed the number of passengers on board the bus at the time of the crash.
