23 dead in Thailand bus fire

BANGKOK, Oct 01 (BBC): A bus carrying dozens of primary school children has crashed and caught fire just outside the Thai capital of Bangkok.
Sixteen children and three teachers are reported to have escaped, but 22 pupils and three teachers are still unaccounted for, according to the country's transport minister.
Thailand's prime minister said the accident resulted in "deaths and injuries" - but the exact number of fatalities has not yet been confirmed.
Photographs show the bus completely destroyed by the fire. Investigators are said to have been unable to enter the vehicle because of the heat, according to local media.
Eight of the 19 people who managed to escape were sent to hospital for treatment, a health ministry official said. The bus was one of three that were carrying children and teachers returning from a school field trip in the northern province of Uthai Thani.
Transport Minister Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit said the bus was powered by "extremely risky" compressed natural gas. "This is a very tragic incident," Mr Suriyahe told reporters at the scene.