At least eight people died and 32 others were injured when a freight train struck a bus at a level crossing in Bangkok, Thai officials said. The collision happened near Makkasan station on the airport rail link, where fire engulfed the bus and nearby vehicles, including cars and motorcycles.
The train, which was carrying containers, was unable to stop in time to avoid the bus, according to deputy transport minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat. He told reporters that the bus had stopped on the tracks at a red light, which prevented the crossing barriers from closing. All eight dead were on the bus, he said.
A witness, motorcycle taxi driver Wanthong Kokpho, described the scene: “The bus was stuck at a red light, so it couldn’t move. 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.”
Rescue teams worked to pull injured victims from the wreckage as fire crews battled the blaze with water hoses. Officials said the fire was brought under control, and crews were cooling the area, venting gas and continuing to search for victims. An investigation into the cause of the incident is under way.
Thailand’s roads rank among the world’s deadliest, according to the World Health Organization, owing to weak enforcement of safety standards.
