More than 20 children feared dead in a bus crash in Thailand

A bus carrying dozens of primary school children crashed and caught fire just outside the Thai capital Bangkok.

Sixteen children and three teachers reportedly fled, but 22 students and three teachers are still missing, according to the country's transport minister.

According to the BBC Thai service, officials said they found ten bodies on the bus.

Photos show how the bus was completely destroyed by the fire. According to local media, investigators were unable to enter the vehicle because of the heat.

The bus was one of three carrying children and teachers returning from a school trip to the northern province of Uthai Thani.

Transport Minister Suriyahe Juangroongruangkit said the bus was powered by compressed natural gas.

“This is a very tragic incident,” Mr Suriyahe told reporters at the scene.

“The ministry must find a measure… if possible, so that passenger vehicles like this are banned from using this type of fuel as it is extremely risky,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Thai Prime Minister has ordered ministers to visit the crime scene.

“As a mother, I would like to express my deepest regrets to the families of those killed,” said Paetongtarn Shinawatra.

“The government will be responsible for all medical costs and compensation for those killed,” she added.

The bus was traveling on a highway to Bangkok when a tire burst and it crashed into a barrier, a rescue worker said in footage broadcast on local television.

Video footage from the scene showed flames engulfing the bus as it burned under an overpass, sending huge clouds of thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

It's not clear how old the children on board were, but the school has students between the ages of three and 15.

Thailand has one of the world's worst road safety records, with unsafe vehicles and poor driving contributing to the high annual death toll.