Friday, November 1, 2024 - At least 14 passengers narrowly escaped death while the driver sustained a minor injury when a commercial bus went up in flames along the Old Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.
The vehicle, a Toyota Hiace bus, was said
to be heading to Asaba, Delta State when it suddenly caught up in flames in the
middle of the bridge on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.
An eyewitness and trader in the area, who
identified himself as Obiora Uzor, said the passengers had managed to jump out
of the bus before the fire finally engulfed the whole vehicle, adding that the
driver sustained burns as the fire started from the front of the vehicle.
“The bus suddenly went up in flames while
in motion and caused panic on the bridge as the passengers struggled to escape
having been caught up by the fire. No one knew the cause of the fire," the
witness said.
“It caused a heavy gridlock to and fro the
bridge as motorists and other passersby were battling to extinguish the fire
before the arrival of firefighters who later controlled the
inferno."
The Media and Publicity Unit of the Anambra
State Fire Service confirmed the incident, in a statement on Thursday.
“The Anambra State Fire Service on
Wednesday, October 30, 2024, received a distress alert at 0930 hours reporting
of a vehicle (bus) engulfed by fire along the Bridge-head, Onitsha,” he
said.
“A crew of firemen and firefighting
equipment were immediately deployed to the rescue. They extinguished the fire
and ensured that it did not affect other vehicles that were plying the bridge.
“The cause of the incident is unknown. No
life was lost. The public was advised to alert the fire service in time
whenever there is a fire incident and to install fire extinguishers in their
vehicles. Remember, fire kills but, we can prevent it."
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