The driver, Praterng Sakkaew, 54, from Trang, was taken to Takua Thung Police Station after the incident where he was later formally charged. The penalty for the charge is a fine of between B150,000-200,000.
The incident happened at 10am after the bus left Phuket and stopped at the Songpon Steel workshop in Takua Thung for minor welding repairs to a broken driver’s seat.
The welding was carried out while all 21 passengers, Thai and foreign, were still on board. Sparks from the welding started a fire that quickly spread through the bus, prompting the passengers to cram the exit near the centre of the bus. The fire claimed one woman live and injure twelve people on board.
http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-bus-inferno-leaves-one-dead-12-injured-54437.php
The deceased has been named as Dang Paharat, 50, from Phang Nga.
Four of the injured are still in ICU and they have been named as Ms Sunisa Chookaew, 25, from Trang; Supasinee Wonglee, 58, from Thalang in Phuket; a unnamed Thai men aged 46, and a 15-year-old girl whose name has yet to be released.
Phang Nga Governor, Pakpong Tawiphat and his staff visited the victims in hospital yesterday and again today.
The Phang Nga Office of the Insurance Commission have already given B200,000 to the deceased’s family and B50,000 to each of the injured.
Takua Thung Police Chief, Col Sirisak Wasasiri commented after the incident, “The top of the welding machine either made contact with another part of metal on the bus or a can spray could have caused friction and started the fire.
“Staff on the bus attempted to help everyone off the bus, but the fire spread quickly and passengers on the top deck started to choke.
“Some passengers were so worried about their belongings that they did not want to move quickly which caused confusion and chaos. Local residents helped put the fire out and broke windows to free those trapped on the bus,” he said.