A bus and a train collided near Makkasan station on the Airport Rail Link in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon, leaving at least eight people dead and 35 injured, Bangkok Post reports.
The accident occurred when a freight train struck a city bus that had become stuck on a railway crossing amid heavy traffic. The impact caused the bus to catch fire.
Firefighters and rescue teams were called to the scene shortly after 3.40pm. The fire spread rapidly, and the bus was destroyed before it was brought under control.
Authorities said two people are in critical condition among the injured. Several vehicles nearby, including cars and motorcycles, were also affected after the bus was dragged along the tracks.
Initial reports suggest a possible malfunction at the level crossing, while investigators are reviewing communication records between rail operators and train staff.
The State Railway of Thailand and the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority are assisting in the investigation.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has pledged to review railway safety and consider replacing level crossings with tunnels or elevated routes following the fatal collision in Bangkok.
After visiting survivors in hospital on Sunday, he said authorities must reduce reliance on manual crossing systems and address long-standing safety risks. He also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and said support would be provided to those affected.
Officials are now reviewing whether procedures were followed correctly and examining data from the train’s record systems as part of the ongoing investigation.
