Buriram: A van traveling on the Buriram-Nangrong road caught fire, but all five passengers, including a school student, escaped safely. The incident occurred as the vehicle was en route from Buriram city to Nakhon Ratchasima Province.
According to Thai News Agency, the van began to experience mechanical issues when it started jerking, and the horn sounded unexpectedly, followed by smoke emerging from the vehicle. The driver, Mr. Boonthan, age 62, promptly pulled over to the far right lane and evacuated the passengers. Shortly after, the van was engulfed in flames and completely destroyed. Firefighters took 20 minutes to extinguish the blaze.
Mr. Boonthan explained that he was not the regular driver for the van, as the usual driver had other commitments. The vehicle had just been parked, and its engine had not been inspected before the journey. Initially, the trip from Nakhon Ratchasima Province to the Buriram passenger transport station seemed normal. However, after picking up new passengers heading back to
Nakhon Ratchasima, smoke was noticed from the engine room, prompting Mr. Boonthan to stop the vehicle. Unfortunately, the fire broke out too quickly for any preventive action.
A passenger mentioned overhearing a conversation between the two drivers regarding parts that needed replacement, though the specifics were unknown to him. Despite this, the journey continued until the incident occurred. The van was powered by NGV gas.