Story from Jam Press (Bus Fire Deaths) Pictured: The aftermath of the bus fire. VIDEO: Twenty two young pupils and three teachers die in horror bus blaze Twenty-two young pupils and three teachers were killed when their bus caught fire on a school trip. They were en route to their destination when the tragedy happened today (1 Oct). Horror footage shows how flames and thick, black smoke billowed from their bus, as it sat on the side of a multi-lane road. The tragedy reportedly unfolded when the front-left tyre burst as the bus was in motion. This caused the wheel to catch fire and the driver to lose control. It hurtled into the roadside barrier, causing the flames to spread rapidly. Thirty-eight pupils, aged three to nine, and four teachers were on board at the time. Nineteen survivors managed to get out as the fire ripped through the vehicle. They were rushed to hospitals with injuries. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene to extinguish the blaze and the road was cleared. After putting out the fire, they came across the grim sight of several dead bodies inside the blackened wreckage. The surviving teacher told how many were unable to escape because the bus doors would not open. The accident happened on a road in Pathum Thani near Bangkok, Thailand. The pupils and teachers were from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani. They were heading to Ayutthaya Historical Park and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Learning Centre in Nonthaburi. They were travelling in three buses, two of which were unaffected, as reported by NeedToKnow. The police are looking for the driver, who was not at the scene and whose phone is turned off. Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra said: “As a mother, I want to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased. “The government will ensure that all medical treatment and compensation for the affected families are fully provided.” ENDS EDITOR’S NOTES: Video Usage