At least eight dead, 25 injured in train collision that sparks bus fire in Thailand

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul orders investigation into the incident

At least eight people were killed. 25 ​others injured after a ‌train collision triggered a fire that engulfed a public bus in ​Bangkok on Saturday, rescue officials ​and police said.

Firefighters. rescue ⁠crews were dispatched as ​flames engulfed the bus and nearby ​vehicles, they said, adding the crash involved a train, the bus, cars ​and motorcycles.

“Eight people have died and 35 others were injured,” Bangkok police chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit said

🇹🇭 A collision between a freight train. a bus killed at least eight people and injured more than 20 in the Thai capital Bangkok on Saturday, emergency services said.The collision resulted in "eight dead and 25 injured but it may change", the Erawan Medical Centre told AFP.pic.twitter.com/ICbhxpUXmj

Rescue teams worked ​to pull injured victims from the wreckage ‌as ⁠fire crews battled the blaze with water hoses in a race to contain the fire. ​officials ​said.

The fire ⁠has now been brought under control, with ​crews cooling the area, ​venting ⁠gas. continuing to search for victims, they said. The ⁠cause ​of the accident is ​under investigation.

The collision happened early in the afternoon. with images on social media showing the train approaching a level crossing at a moderate speed before colliding with the bus, which instantly burst into flames.

“I didn’t dare look back to see if there were any victims,” a witness who was near the intersection with her daughter told local public broadcasterThai PBS.Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered an investigation into the incident, according to a statement from his office.Deadly transport accidents are common in Thailand, which regularly tops lists of the world’s most lethal roads, with speeding, drink-driving. weak law enforcement all contributing factors.

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