Shocking dashcam footage has captured the moment a bus exploded in a fireball after being hit by a freight train in central Bangkok, Thailand. The incident occurred earlier today near the city's major Makkasan railway station, killing eight passengers and injuring 32 others, according to deputy transport minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat.
Rescue crews and firefighters were dispatched to the scene and managed to contain the blaze. Mr Angkasakulkiat said the wounded were being treated at various hospitals. Authorities believe the bus was driving over a level crossing when its lights turned red, and the vehicle's position prevented the crossing's barriers from closing. Heavy traffic stopped the driver from moving off the track, witnesses reported.
The train, which was carrying containers, was unable to stop in time, the minister explained. Dashcam footage shared on social media showed the bus and several other vehicles being thrown down the railway line before the bus became engulfed in flames. Wanthong Kokpho, a motorcycle taxi driver who witnessed the crash, said: 'Cars were also blocked and unable to move forward. The fire broke out immediately … If this had been a normal working day, the damage would have been much worse.'
Since the fire was brought under control, rescue teams have continued to search for victims, and an investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident. Thailand's roads are notoriously dangerous, and the country has one of the highest road traffic death rates in Asia, according to the World Health Organisation.
