Freight Train Strikes Bus at Bangkok Rail Crossing, Killing Eight

A freight train struck a public bus at a rail crossing near Makkasan station in Bangkok on Saturday, killing eight people and injuring 32 others. The collision also involved cars and motorcycles and triggered a fire that engulfed the bus and nearby vehicles, rescue officials said. Firefighters and rescue crews worked to pull injured victims from the wreckage and brought the blaze under control.

Preliminary reports showed the bus had stopped on the tracks at a red light, preventing crossing barriers from closing, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat told reporters. The train, which was transporting containers, was unable to stop in time.

“Eight people were killed and 32 injured, with the wounded being treated at various hospitals. All eight dead were on the bus,” he said. Videos shared on social media showed the train striking the bus and dragging several other nearby vehicles along the tracks.

Kokpho, a motorcycle taxi driver who witnessed the crash, told Reuters that the bus was stuck at a red light. “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,” he said.

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. Authorities are investigating the cause of the incident.

Thailand’s roads rank among the world’s deadliest, according to the World Health Organization, due to weak enforcement of safety standards.