Eight people have been confirmed dead and at least 24 injured following a collision between a train and a passenger bus near Makkasan station of the Airport Rail Link in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon.
Police at the Makkasan station were alerted at 3.42pm about a fire involving a blue air-conditioned passenger bus (Route No 206) near the Airport Rail Link station on Asok-Din Daeng Road. Firefighters and rescue personnel were dispatched to the scene.
Initial reports indicated that a freight train had collided with a bus and a motorcycle, triggering a fire.
Flames engulfed the bus within minutes. Explosions were heard intermittently as firefighters battled the flames and eventually brought them under control. Rescue workers later discovered the bodies of eight passengers inside the bus.
Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the train travelling from Chachoengsao to Bang Sue in Bangkok struck the bus that had become stuck across the railway tracks amid heavy traffic.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that before the incident, they noticed the rail crossing barrier appeared to be malfunctioning. Video posted online of the moment of impact appears to show the barrier stuck in place.
Mr Chadchart said the traffic congestion reportedly prevented the barriers from operating properly, causing the train to crash into the bus and drag it for about 50 metres before the bus caught fire.
As the bus was dragged along, it struck a number of other cars and motorcycles, which also caught fire.
Many other road users in cars and motorcycles were injured. Officials were providing first aid and transporting them to nearby hospitals for urgent treatment.
Officials said updates would be provided as more information becomes available.
