25 killed in Thailand school bus fire

Twenty-two students and three teachers on a field trip were killed by a fire that tore through their bus in Pathum Thani of Thailand on Tuesday.

Nineteen passengers survived the fire. All were rushed to hospitals.

The bus was carrying 38 students, from Kindergarten 2 to Matthayom 3, and six teachers from Wat Khao Praya Sangkharam school in Lam Sak district of Uthai Thani, reports Bangkok Post. 

Police confirmed 22 students and three teachers died, trapped in the fire on the bus.

Nineteen people were rescued. They were taken to local hospitals.

Police were told about noon that a bus was on fire on an inbound lane of Vibhavadi Rangsit and Phahon Yothin roads, near the Zeer Rangsit shopping centre in Pathum Thani. 

Rescuers said the bus's front left tyre had blown out and the wheel caught fire. The driver lost control, the bus hit the road barrier and the flames rapidly spread up and throughout the vehicle.

The bus was the second of a three-bus fleet taking students on a one-day educational trip.

The bus belonged to Chinnaboot Tour, based in Sing Buri.

Police said the driver was not at the scene after the accident and his mobile phone was turned off. They would find him.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra sent condolence messages to the families of those who lost their lives or were injured and said the government would be cover medical costs and provide financial aid to the victims and the bereaved families.