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Kenyan funeral video circulates in posts about Thai school bus crash victims

Kenyan funeral video circulates in posts about Thai school bus crash victims

By Grazia British

Culture

<span>Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken October 7, 2024</span>

Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken October 7, 2024

It circulated online after a devastating fire on a Thai school bus killed at least 23 people, police said (archived link).

The inferno engulfed the coach on a highway in a northern Bangkok suburb as it carried 38 children -- ranging from kindergarten age to young teenagers -- and six teachers on a school trip.

It is believed to be the deadliest road accident in a decade in Thailand, which has one of the world's worst traffic safety records with around 20,000 fatalities a year.

The same clip, which predates the crash in Thailand, was shared alongside a similar false claim on Facebook here and here; and on TikTok here.

Kenyan school funeral

Reverse image searches on Google found a video published by the television channel Citizen TV Kenya on YouTube on September 26, 2024 (archived link).

The white and gold caskets match the features shown in the circulating posts.

"Endarasha victims farewell / Funeral service for 21 pupils killed in dormitory fire," read the report's news ticker.

Below is a screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the video published by Citizen TV Kenya (right):

<span>Screenshot comparison of the false post (left) and the video published by Citizen TV Kenya (right)</span>

AFP published similar footage of the funeral service on the same day (archived link).

"A memorial service is held in Mweiga, for 21 boys, aged nine to 13, killed in an overnight fire in their dormitory at Hillside Endarasha Academy in central Kenya on September 26," the video's caption read.

The cause of the fatal dormitory fire remains under investigation.

Following the Thai school bus inferno, AFP also reported on the funeral prayers for the 20 children and three teachers killed.

A huge display of white flowers adorned 23 coffins, which were topped with portraits of the dead and offerings of food, drink -- and even toy trucks and dolls -- to comfort the departed spirits (archived link).

Photos taken by AFP photographer Chanakarn Laosarakham at the event differ from the scene shown in the false posts.

<span>Volunteers arrange funeral flowers on the coffins for victims of a school bus fire at Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in Uthai Thani on October 3, 2024.</span><div><span>Chanakarn Laosarakham</span><span>AFP</span></div>
<span>Portraits and coffins of the teachers who died in a school bus fire are displayed with white flowers before their funeral at Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School.</span><div><span>Chanakarn Laosarakham</span><span>AFP</span></div>

AFP has debunked other false posts following the Thai school bus accident.

Originally published by yahoo.com. Syndicated material does not necessarily reflect the views of Grazia British.

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Kenyan funeral video circulates in posts about Thai school bus crash victims | Grazia British