Five passengers, including two children, were killed and several others were injured when a double-decker tour bus, in which they were travelling, caught fire on the Friendship Highway in Ban Haed district of Thailand’s northeastern province of Khon Kaen on Monday night.

Initial reports indicate that journey of the bus, operated by 407 Pattana Company, originated in Udon Thani, with a stopover in Muang district of Khon Kaen. As it was leaving Muang district on the Friendship Highway, heading to Ban Haed district, one of its tires ruptured, followed by a shower of sparks.

The bus caught fire. The blaze rapidly engulfed the entire vehicle, trapping five passengers inside, including three adults and two children, while other passengers managed to escape, some suffering burns.

When rescue workers arrived, they managed to extinguish the fire and rushed 12 injured passengers to Sirindhorn and Soon Khon Kaen hospitals for treatment.

Police said that they could not identify the dead victims until the arrival of their relatives, adding that they are still investigating the exact cause of the fire.