Shocking dashcam footage has captured the moment a bus exploded after it was hit by a freight train earlier today.

The explosion engulfed the bus and killed its eight passengers in central Bangkok,Thailand,according to the country’s deputy transport minister Siripong Angkasakulkiat.

Rescue crews and firefighters were dispatched and managed to contain the blaze,which happened close to the city’s major Makkasan railway station.

Speaking shortly after the tragedy,Mr Angkasakulkiat said: ‘Eight people were killed and 32 injured,with the wounded being treated at various hospitals.

The bus appeared to be split in half when the train rammed into it in the middle of a busy junction in Bangkok,Thailand

‘All eight dead were on the bus.’

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.Authorities currently believe the bus was driving over a level crossing when its lights turned red,Mr Angkasakulkiat explained.While this vehicle’s location prevented the crossing’s barriers from closing,the red light and heavy traffic stopped the driver from moving off the track,witnesses reported.Meanwhile,the train,which was carrying containers,was unable to stop in time,the minister explained.Thai authorities have launched an investigation into what led to the tragedy. (Picture: EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT)Dashcam footage shared on social media showed the moment the bus and several other vehicles were thrown down the railway line by the train before the bus became engulfed in flames.Wanthong Kokpho,a motorcycle taxi driver,witnessed the crash and said: ‘Cars were also blocked and unable to move forward.‘The fire broke out immediately … If this had been a normal working day,the damage would have been much worse.’Since the fire was brought under control,rescue teams have continued to search for victims,according to Thai authorities.They also confirmed an investigation has been launched into the cause of the incident.Thailand’s roads are notoriously dangerous,and the country has one of the highest road traffic death rates in Asia,according to the World Health Organisation.Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.