At least 23 people died Tuesday on the outskirts of Bangkok when a natural gas-run bus went up in flames while carrying over 40 students and teachers on a field trip.

Reuters

The accident reportedly took place at 12.38pm local time, killing the students of the Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School of Thailand's Uthai Thani province.

Daily Mail

Local media reported that a tire-burst caused the double-decker coach, one of three on the trip, to scrape a metal barrier and setting off sparks that set it ablaze.

Guardian

Officials found it hard to identify the burnt bodies, many of them found at the back of the bus as the fire started in the front and the kids instinctively moved there.

Police officials said that the children's families were taken to Bangkok's Police General Hospital Wednesday to collect DNA samples to identify the victims' bodies.

Independent

Bus driver Saman Chanput, who fled but later surrendered to the police Tuesday, said he failed to put out the fire despite using a fire extinguisher from another bus.

Thailand: Over 20 Children Die in School Bus Blaze

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Thailand: Over 20 Children Die in School Bus Blaze

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