8 dead after fright train rams a bus in Bangkok:35 injured so far, several vehicles destroyed, authorities order full scale investigation

Eight people were killed and 35 people were injured after a freight train crashed into a public bus in Thailand’s capital Bangkok. According to a report by Al Jazeera flames engulfed the bus and nearby vehicles. According to media reports from Bangkok, the crash unfolded on Saturday late night, when the bus appeared to get stuck on an intersection with the rail line after the safety barriers descended. As the freight train rammed into the stationary bus and continued travelling, it dragged several nearby vehicles along with it before the bus burst into flames. Passengers onboard unclear While, speaking to reporters at the scene, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said that all the bodies were found on the bus. It was not yet clear how many people were on board in total. Additionally, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an investigation into the crash, according to a statement from his office. The number of deaths was confirmed by the city’s emergency services Erawan Medical Centre, while Bangkok police chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit confirmed the number of the injured to the press. Siripong would not confirm whether the bus had stopped on the railway track or discuss reports that the barriers may not have lowered properly, saying the matter still needs to be investigated. All emergency services including the firefighters and rescue crews were dispatched to pull people from the wreckage and battle the flames as motorcyclists and passersby attempted to redirect traffic. Images from the scene showed dozens of emergency workers and onlookers crowding onto the streets surrounding the collision, as smoke billowed from the nearby train station. Major impact The incident happened in an area which is located at the very central part of Bangkok’s sprawling metropolis which remains busy at the time with local residents, pedestrians and traffic. Thai news outlet Khaosod English reported that the freight train was travelling from the southern Chachoengsao province to Bangkok’s Bang Sue district. The bus operated a route connecting Bangkok’s eastern suburbs to the city centre. The crash could fuel concerns that Thailand’s rail system is “very antiquated”, Cheng said. “This will also raise questions about the safety record of Bangkok’s railways.” The collision follows another deadly rail incident in January when a construction crane fell on a passenger train northeast of Bangkok, killing at least 28 people and injuring 64 others.