At last nine people are feared to have died and more than a dozen are believed to have been injured in a crash involving a freight train and a public bus. The horror incident happened in Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, in the late afternoon near an airport rail link station in the central area. Casualty numbers were not immediately confirmed by officials, but local media have reported at least eight fatalities and around 15 injuries. One social media user claiming to be a volunteer firefighter in Thailand alleged the fatalities may be at least nine.

Harrowing videos circulating online show the moment of the crash. In one of them, a line of vehicles can be seen halted at a railway crossing, before a cargo train strikes an orange bus at the front. The impact also seemed to drag several nearby vehicles along the tracks before the bus was engulfed in flames.

Several motorcycles and their riders were also seen being thrown onto the road after the collision.

Firefighters quickly sprayed water to bring the blaze under control, while injured people were taken to hospital.

The fire was brought under control at 3.59pm local time, some 19 minutes after the collision.

Later videos showed a group of rescuers going inside the charred bus after the flames were controlled.

Locals reported hearing “small explosions” after the impact.

Members of the public have been urged to avoid the area as emergency services continue to attend the scene.