A devastating collision between a container freight train and a public bus in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday claimed eight lives and left 32 people wounded, according to rescue officials and a deputy transport minister.
The deadly crash occurred near the Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan station when the bus became trapped on railway tracks while stopped at a red traffic signal. Emergency responders and firefighters rushed to the scene as flames consumed the bus and surrounding vehicles, including cars and motorcycles caught in the collision.
Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat explained to media that the bus had stopped on the railroad tracks due to the red light, which prevented the crossing barriers from properly closing. The freight train, carrying containers, could not brake in sufficient time to prevent the impact.
“Eight people were killed and 32 injured, with the wounded being treated at various hospitals. All eight dead were on the bus,” the deputy transport minister stated.
Social media footage captured the moment of impact, showing the train striking the bus and pulling several other vehicles down the tracks with it.
Wanthong Kokpho, a motorcycle taxi driver who saw the accident happen, described the scene to Reuters: “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,” Kokpho added.
Emergency crews worked to extract injured passengers from the wreckage while firefighters used water hoses to combat the flames. Officials reported that the fire was eventually controlled, and teams continued cooling the area, venting gas, and searching for additional victims.
Authorities have launched an investigation into what caused the tragic incident. According to the World Health Organization, Thailand’s roadways are among the most dangerous globally due to insufficient enforcement of safety regulations.
