A bus fire killed 25 people and injured 78 a few hours ago in Chengdu. The injured were sent to the Chengdu No.2 People’s Hospital and the Chengdu Army General Hospital. The tragedy took place at 8 a.m. when the No.9 bus, with license plate of Chuan A 49567 was on its way from Tianhui Township to downtown Chengdu.
Witness said it took only a few minutes for the bus to catch fire, and the body of the burnt bus was dragged off the scene, which was only a few meters from the bus station. The bus driver escaped the fire and took part in the rescue. The rescue mission is currently ended but the fire scene is blocked out and further investigation is taken place.
At first, firefighters suspected the fire could be caused by self-ignition, but soon it was ruled out. According to the firefighters, the bus was not a new one and the temperature today in Chengdu is not high. An inspection team, made up of officials with the governments of Sichuan Province and Chengdu City, will examine fire and safety facilities at bus and coach stops in Chengdu from 3 p.m. Friday.