Bodies of schoolchildren burned in Thai death bus fire arrive at hospital for identification

The bodies of Thai schoolchildren killed in a bus fire were taken to a hospital to undergo identification.

The Office of Police Forensic Science said DNA samples have been collected from the remains of seven passengers burnt alive in the inferno in Pathum Thani province, on the outskirts of Bangkok, on October 1. Parents of the deceased arrived at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok to also provide DNA samples.

Authorities said at least 23 people - three teachers and 20 pupils aged between seven and 15 - were killed. Eleven were male, seven were female, and five were still unidentified.

The bus driver, Saman Chankut, 48, allegedly fled after briefly trying to battle the inferno at the scene. He was found at his wife's house in Ang Thong province on October 1 evening.

Police Major General Yutthana Jonkhun, commander of the Pathum Thani Provincial Police, said Saman will be face a raft of charges including 'reckless driving causing damage to persons or property', 'negligent driving causing mental or physical injury', 'causing the death of another person through negligence', 'driving on the road causing damage to people and not stopping to provide assistance', and 'failing to report to the police, causing death to others'.

The police chief added: 'The driver will be interrogated and the security camera footage will be examined. The Office of Police Forensic Science will thoroughly inspect the vehicle's condition with the Department of Land Transport and relevant organisations. After reviewing all the evidence, we will determine if more charges will be filed.'

Saman claimed he had tried to find a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze, but ran away when he saw it grow uncontrollably. He said he panicked and fled to a relative's house.

Police Major General Chayanon Meesati, deputy commander of Provincial Police Region 1, said the charred wreckage has been towed away for an investigation.

The heavily modified 54-year-old coach running on CNG gas bursts into flames in Pathum Thani shortly after 12:30 pm local time on October 1.

It was said to have lost control when a front tyre blew out. A fire reportedly started in the undercarriage as the vehicle hit the concrete road barriers.

Officials said the youngsters from the Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani were on an educational visit to an electricity plant when the incident happened. They were aged between seven and 15 years old.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said: 'As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families.'

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records. Ministers have set the goal of reducing fatalities from 32.7 deaths per 100,000 people to 12 per 100,000 people by the year 2027.