School bus fire in Thailand kills at least 23

Paetongtarn Shinawatraprime Minister

I have learned of the fire on a bus carrying students from Uthai Thani... resulting in deaths and injuries,

Paetongtarn wrote on X, formerly Twitter

As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased,

she wrote on X, formerly Twitter

Some of the bodies we rescued were very, very small. They must have been very young in age,

Piyalak Thinkaew, who led the search, told reporters at the scene, adding

There was smoke everywhere. Poor children, I heard they were very little,

he told AFP

The driver is on the run, we will not wait for him to turn himself in — we will send a team to find him,

Kitrat said

The kids' instinct was to escape to the back so the bodies were there,

he said

This is a very tragic incident,

he told reporters at the scene

There is no way we will distort the fact or help anyone

escape justice ... Kitrat said and added

Such an incident causes a great sorrow and grief,

he told reporters at a news conference

As far as we know now, three teachers and 16 students got out

he told reporters

Teachers told us that the fire ignited very quickly,

acting police chief Kittirat Phanphet told a press conference

From speaking to witnesses, we believe the explosion was caused by a spark from the tyre that lit the gas cylinder that was powering the vehicle,

he said, adding