68 passengers escape death as Lagos bus catches fire

About 68 passengers onboard a Lagos State-owned passenger bus yesterday escaped death by the whiskers when the vehicle went up in flames.

The incident, which multiple sources said caused pandemonium, led to passengers scrambling for safety. Many passengers were injured after jumping through the windows. However, no lives were lost in the ensuing stampede, and the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), Nosa Okunbor, said the fire was first noticed in the engine compartment at the rear of the bus and later spread to other parts.

According to him, the bus, which under normal circumstances would ordinarily accommodate 48 passengers, was fully loaded, with some passengers even standing due to the rush hour. He thanked God that no lives were lost.

He said, “When our Shark Response Team arrived at the incident scene, they discovered that a CAIO Lag Bus, registration number unknown, fully loaded with passengers, was engulfed by fire.

“Further investigations revealed that the immediate cause of the fire was due to an electrical error from the engine compartment at the back of the bus before the fire extended to the back seats and sides. No loss of lives or injuries were sustained by anyone due to the incident.

“The Lagbus fire coordinated by the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) in conjunction with the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) has been completely extinguished. The carcass of the burnt bus has been successfully recovered off the road with a private tow truck and subsequently moved to a lay-by, and the road has been cleared for vehicular activities.”