A small town in central Thailand, Lan Sak, is mourning the loss of 23 children and teachers who tragically died in a bus fire while on a school trip. The bodies of the victims were returned to Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam, a Buddhist temple in Lan Sak town, where residents and monks gathered to pay their respects.
The school the children attended is located on the temple grounds, a common practice in rural Thailand. The bodies of the victims were received by grieving relatives who had traveled to Bangkok to help identify the severely burned victims.
Florists arrived early at the school's assembly hall to set up a display of white flowers in front of the coffins containing portraits of the deceased. Relatives placed food, snacks, and beverages on top of the coffins as offerings to honor and bless the departed souls.
The funeral was attended by a representative of the royal family, the head of Thailand's Privy Council, with King Maha Vajiralongkorn announcing a royal cremation ceremony for the victims next week.
The tragic incident occurred when a bus carrying six teachers and 39 students caught fire on a highway in suburban Bangkok. Only 22 individuals were able to escape the blaze, sparking concerns about safety measures on school field trips.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, with initial charges filed against the driver for reckless driving and failing to assist others. The driver reported a malfunctioning front tire that led to the bus scraping a concrete barrier, potentially igniting gas canisters on board.
The bus, which had 11 gas canisters despite a permit for only six, was fueled by compressed natural gas. The bus company owner claimed the gas cylinders had met safety standards, but the Department of Land Transport is conducting urgent inspections of all natural gas-fueled buses and revising safety guidelines for future operations.
