School Outing Turns to Disaster in Torrential Rain
A school trip in southern Thailand has ended in terror after a double-decker bus packed with children crashed in heavy rain. The vehicle, carrying 37 pupils, veered off the road and smashed into trees. Nine children are now in hospital.
The accident happened on Tuesday around 4pm on Highway 44 in Surat Thani province. Emergency services say the rain was relentless, turning the road into a slippery trap.
Slippery Highway Becomes Scene of Chaos
The bus was returning from a day out in Khanom, Nakhon Si Thammarat. On board were students from Na San School, two teachers, and a three-person bus crew. The 100-kilometre journey suddenly became a nightmare.
Police say the bus first clipped a grey car, damaging its side. Then, disaster struck. The driver lost control on the soaked tarmac, sending the heavy bus careening off the highway and into the trees.
Miracle Escape as Bus Stays Upright
Incredibly, the double-decker did not tip over. It came to a halt in the undergrowth. Still, three boys and six girls, aged just 11 and 12, suffered injuries to their arms and legs from the impact.
“It was chaos,” said one rescuer. “We just tried to get the children out safely.”
Brave Rescue Amid Stormy Conditions
Kanchanadit Rescue teams raced to the scene, battling the downpour. They treated the injured children and rushed them to Kanchanadit Hospital for further care.
The two people in the car also suffered minor injuries, but were treated at the scene. Police are now piecing together exactly what went wrong.
Shocked Pupils Return Home to Waiting Parents
For the 28 unhurt children and their teachers, the ordeal was deeply traumatic. A replacement bus took them back to school, where anxious parents waited, desperate for news.
Na San School’s headteacher promises a full investigation. “We must look at safety on future trips, especially in bad weather,” she said. The community is left shaken, asking how a day of fun turned so quickly to fear.
