AYUTTHAYA, Thailand – In a dramatic early morning incident in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province, a worker shuttle bus burst into flames while idling, moments after the driver had stepped away. Fortunately, no passengers were onboard at the time of the blaze.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. on April 21, local police at Uthai Police Station received an emergency call reporting a bus fire on the outbound lane of Rojana Road, just before the entrance arch of Wat Khan Ham in Khan Ham Subdistrict, Uthai District.
Emergency responders from Khan Ham Subdistrict Municipality, along with volunteers from Phutthaisawan Foundation, quickly arrived at the scene. They found the white shuttle bus, license plate number 30 – 1230 Lopburi, engulfed in flames. Firefighters deployed two trucks to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to nearby shops. A loud explosion was reported during the fire, which took over 30 minutes to fully extinguish, leaving behind only smoldering wreckage.
Nearby property also sustained minor damage, including a parked motorcycle, shop signs, and overhead cables scorched by the intense heat.
The 43-year-old bus driver, Mr. Kittima from Wang Noi District, Ayutthaya, said he had parked the bus and left the engine running while preparing to pick up factory workers. He went to a restroom nearby and returned within five minutes, only to find flames rapidly spreading from the front of the vehicle. Unable to intervene in time, he watched the entire bus go up in flames. Thankfully, no workers were inside during the incident.
Investigators photographed the scene and will question the driver further to determine the exact cause of the fire.
