Thailand to inspect CNG vehicles after 23 killed in school bus fire

Surapong Piyachote, Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Transport, on Wednesday said the Department of Land Transport (DLT) has been tasked with completing the inspection in two months, according to the Straits Times.

The move comes in response to the fatal fire on a bus chartered by Wat Khao Phaya Sangkharam School for a sightseeing trip involving 45 students and teachers.

Of the passengers, 23 were killed when the CNG-fueled bus caught fire. According to the transport department, approximately 13,426 passenger buses in Thailand are currently powered by CNG.

Surapong has also directed the department to draft new regulations requiring bus drivers and staff to undergo safety and management training. He urged collaboration with schools to ensure all buses used for school trips meet safety standards, The Nation reported.

The transport ministry is also exploring the possibility of adjusting the maximum number of years a passenger bus can remain in service. Another potential measure includes mandating that all passenger buses provide safety briefings to passengers before every trip, similar to airline procedures.