00:00We begin in Thailand, where a devastating train collision in the heart of Bangkok has left at least eight people
00:06dead and dozens injured.
00:07Authorities say a freight train slammed into a public bus near an airport rail link station in central Bangkok on
00:14Saturday afternoon.
00:15The violent impact triggered a massive fire, engulfing the bus and several nearby vehicles in flames.
00:22Emergency officials from Bangkok's Erewhon Medical Center confirmed that at least eight people were killed,
00:28while police report more than 35 others were injured in the crash.
00:32According to local media, the freight train was traveling from Chachewengso Province toward Bangkok's Bang Siu District when the accident
00:40occurred.
00:40The bus was operating a regular route connecting the city's eastern suburbs to the downtown area.
00:46Witnesses say the crash happened around 3.40 p.m. local time when the bus appeared to become trapped at
00:52a railway crossing after safety barriers descended.
00:55Moments later, the freight train crashed into the stationary vehicle, dragging it and several nearby cars along the tracks before
01:03the bus burst into flames.
01:05Deputy Transport Minister Sirupong Nkisikokia told reporters that all victims discovered so far were found inside the bus.
01:12However, officials are still working to determine exactly how many passengers were on board at the time of the collision.
01:20Firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene to battle the blaze and pull survivors from the wreckage,
01:26while nearby motorists and pedestrians scrambled to clear traffic from the area.
01:31Authorities say the fire has now been brought under control.
01:35Thailand's Prime Minister Anitin Chharnvikal has ordered an immediate investigation into the cause of the crash.
01:41Officials are examining whether the bus became stranded on the tracks and whether the railway crossing barriers functioned properly.
01:48The incident has once again raised serious concerns about railway safety in Thailand.
01:54It follows another deadly rail disaster earlier this year,
01:57when a construction crane collapsed onto a passenger train northeast of Bangkok,
02:02killing at least 28 people and injuring dozens more.
02:06Investigators are expected to release more details as the inquiry continues.
02:10Stay with us for further updates on this developing story.
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