At least eight people were killed and another 35 injured after a freight train collided with a bus in Thailand’s capital on Friday, according to police.
Bangkok police chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit confirmed the death toll, while rescue teams were deployed to the scene where the burned-out remains of the bus were still being examined by investigators.
Authorities cordoned off a busy central intersection in the city, which is normally used by tens of thousands of vehicles daily, to facilitate rescue and investigation efforts.
Initial reports indicated that the train was travelling at moderate speed when it struck the bus at a level crossing, causing a fire and subsequent explosion.
Firefighters later managed to extinguish the blaze, while recovery operations were carried out to retrieve victims from the wreckage.
Witnesses described the incident as chaotic, with one bystander telling local media that he was too shaken to look back at the scene while he was there with his daughter.
Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered an immediate investigation into the deadly crash.
Road accidents remain frequent in Thailand, which is often ranked among the countries with the most dangerous roads globally, with speeding, drunk driving, and weak enforcement cited as key contributing factors.
