Passengers, Driver Escape Death as Commercial Bus Catches Fire in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

No fewer than 14 passengers narrowly escape death, while the driver sustained injury in a fire incident involving a fully loaded commercial bus in Awka, Anambra State.

The vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus was heading to Onitsha when it suddenly went up in flames in front of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) office, Awka.

An eye witness who identified himself as Uzodike Okafor said the passengers had managed to jump out of the bus before the bus was razed, but noted the driver was not lucky enough as he was affected by the flames.

“Motorists and other passersby were battling to extinguish the fire before the arrival of firefighters who later controlled the inferno,” the witness added.

Confirming the incident, State Fire Chief, Engr Martin Agbili said no life was lost in the inferno, while the cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.

He said, “At about 1940hrs of 10-01-2024, Anambra State Fire Service, received a distress call of fire outbreak in a Toyota Hiace Bus conveying passengers to Onitsha, opposite Anambra Broadcasting Service office.

“Immediately, we deployed our Firefighters and fire truck to fire scene where we fought, controlled and extinguished the fire to allow motorist to move freely at the express way.

“No life was lost as the passengers where able to escape from the Bus but only the driver was rushed to the nearby hospital.

“Nobody could say the actual cause of the fire outbreak.

“Remember that we are still in harmattan. Avoid anything that can cause fire outbreak. Fire kills but you can prevent it.”