A school bus carrying 44 students and teachers caught fire after crashing on a highway in northern Bangkok. Up to 25 people are feared dead in the tragic incident.

A school bus caught fire in Bangkok, Thailand, with several fatalities feared, according to officials on Tuesday.

The bus, carrying 38 students and six teachers from Wat Khao Phraya School in Uthai Thani province, was en route for a school trip when a tire burst, causing the vehicle to crash into a barrier.

Government officials reported that 16 individuals have been hospitalized, while 25 are feared dead.

A rescue worker told a local news channel that the incident occurred around noon in a northern suburb of Bangkok. The collision caused the fuel tanks to ignite, leading to a fire, the worker added.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed her sympathies to the families of the victims.

"As a mother, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of the injured and deceased," she wrote in a post on X. She assured that authorities were already on the scene and that medical and emergency expenses would be covered.

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit confirmed that the bus was traveling from Uthai Thani province to Ayutthaya for a school trip.

"According to current information, three teachers and 16 students managed to escape. We're still unclear about the status of those missing," he told reporters.

Footage from local media showed massive flames and thick smoke emanating from the bus before firefighters extinguished the blaze.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul mentioned that while the exact number of deaths has not yet been confirmed, it is feared that around 25 people lost their lives.

He added that the driver survived but fled the scene.

Rescue group Hongsakul Khlong Luang 21 posted on Facebook, stating that they had found at least 10 bodies on the bus and reported that at least 19 people had survived.

Thailand is known for its poor road safety conditions, with outdated vehicles and unsafe driving practices contributing to the country's high road accident death toll.