Thailand: Police arrest driver after school bus fire kills 23

Thailand police have arrested the driver of a bus which caught fire killing 23 people, including students, in Bangkok city, media reports said.

Meanwhile, family members of the victims have arrived in the city to identify the dead.

The bus reportedly caught fire when it was travelling from Uthai Thani province, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of Bangkok, for a school trip in Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi provinces.

The vehicle was reportedly carrying 39 students and six teachers at the time of the tragedy.

Trairong Phiwpan, head of the police forensic department, told CNN that 23 bodies were recovered from the bus.

The arrested driver was identified as Saman Chanput.

Police told CNN they have charged him with reckless driving causing deaths and injuries, failing to stop to help others and failing to report the accident.

Country’s Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted on X: “I am aware of a bus fire incident from Uthai Thani, carrying students on a field trip to Bangkok, which resulted in an accident on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, resulting in deaths and injuries.”

“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased,” she said.

“As the government, we have ordered Mr. Anutin, Mr. Suriya and Mr. Sabida to go to the scene themselves. The government will take care of the medical expenses and provide compensation to the families of the deceased,” she said.