On Tuesday, October 1, a school bus carrying students and teachers caught fire in Bangkok, Thailand’s capital, causing a tragic accident that claimed the lives of over 20 people. 16 additional individuals, including teachers and students, were hospitalized with severe injuries in addition to the fatalities. In addition to sparking conversations about preventive measures that could stop similar tragedies in the future, the disaster has deepened concerns about the safety of school transportation in the nation.

Six teachers and students from Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani province were on board the bus when it was involved in the collision. The group visited the Electricity Generating Authority Learning Center in Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya Historical Park as part of a school excursion. However, after the bus struck a metal barrier and caused the fire that killed so many people, what should have been a day of education and enjoyment swiftly devolved into a terrifying scene.

According to preliminary investigations, the bus’s driver lost control of the vehicle after a tire burst, resulting in the accident. Sparks from the bus’s violent collision with a metal barrier swiftly spread to the gas tank, where they started a destructive fire. Within minutes, the flames swept through the car, leaving the occupants terrified and with few ways out. Sadly, a large number of the residents—children in particular—were unable to flee in time.

There are terrifying details about the fire. There are reports that some of the children frantically ran to the back of the bus in the hopes of finding a way out. But rescue efforts were thwarted by the fire’s rapid spread. The tragedy was made even more agonizing for the families of the students and the school community because so many of them did not survive. Emergency personnel mobilized instantly in response to the tragic event, and they put in endless effort to contain the fire and save the lives of those who survived.

The Thai government has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into the accident’s cause. A comprehensive study will be conducted to find weaknesses in the school transportation system and put policies in place that can stop tragedies in the future, according to Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit. He emphasized that the investigation will take into account a number of factors, including the vehicle’s condition, the driver’s reaction, and the safety procedures followed by the school, in addition to the tire blowout and the sparks.