A train crashed into a public bus near an airport rail link station Bangkok\u2019s city centre, Thai media report
\n Bangkok
\nAt least eight people have been killed, and dozens injured, after a freight train crashed into a public bus in Thailand\u2019s capital.
\nFlames engulfed the bus and nearby vehicles near an airport rail link station in the centre of Bangkok Saturday afternoon.
\nThe city\u2019s emergency services Erawan Medical Center confirmed the number of deaths, while Bangkok police chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit told AFP news agency at least 35 people were injured.
\nSpeaking to reporters at the scene, Deputy Transport Minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat said that all the bodies were found on the bus. It was not yet clear how many people were on board in total.
\nPrime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered an investigation into the crash, according to a statement from his office.
\nAl Jazeera\u2019s Tony Cheng, reporting from Bangkok, said the crash unfolded around 3:40pm local time (08:40 GMT), when the bus appeared to get stuck on an intersection with the rail line after the safety barriers descended.
\nAs the freight train rammed into the stationary bus and continued travelling, it dragged several nearby vehicles along with it before the bus burst into flames.
\nSiripong would not confirm whether the bus had stopped on the railway track or discuss reports that the barriers may not have lowered properly, saying the matter still needs to be investigated.
\nFirefighters and rescue crews were dispatched to pull people from the wreckage and battle the flames as motorcyclists and passersby attempted to redirect traffic.
\nThe fire has since been brought under control.
\nImages from the scene showed dozens of emergency workers and onlookers crowding onto the streets surrounding the collision, as smoke billowed from the nearby train station.
\n\u2018Antiquated\u2019 system
\nThe surrounding area is a very central part of Bangkok\u2019s sprawling metropolis, Cheng said, and was \u201cvery busy at the time\u201d with local residents, pedestrians and traffic.
\nThai publication Khaosod English reported that the freight train was travelling from the southern Chachoengsao province to Bangkok\u2019s Bang Sue district. The bus operated a route connecting Bangkok\u2019s eastern suburbs to the city centre.
\nThe crash could fuel concerns that Thailand\u2019s rail system is \u201cvery antiquated\u201d, Cheng said.
\n\u201cThis will also raise questions about the safety record of Bangkok\u2019s railways.\u201d
\nThe collision follows another deadly rail incident in January when a construction crane fell on a passenger train northeast of Bangkok, killing at least 28 people and injuring 64 others.
\nTransport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said at the time that he had ordered a full investigation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A train crashed into a public bus near an airport rail link station Bangkok\u2019s city centre, Thai media report Bangkok At least eight people have been killed, and dozens injured, after a freight train crashed into a public bus in Thailand\u2019s capital. Flames engulfed the bus and nearby vehicles near an airport rail link station […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":546948,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-546937","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n