At least 14 passengers had a narrow escape from tragedy when a commercial bus caught fire on the Old Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State. The driver suffered minor injuries in the incident.
The Toyota Hiace bus was en route to Asaba, Delta State, when it suddenly ignited on the bridge on Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Eyewitness Obiora Uzor, a local trader, reported that passengers managed to leap from the vehicle before flames consumed it. He noted that the fire originated at the front of the bus, leaving the driver with burns.
“The bus erupted into flames while moving, causing chaos as passengers fought to escape. The cause of the fire remains unclear,” Uzor explained. The incident created significant traffic congestion on the bridge as motorists and bystanders attempted to douse the flames before firefighters arrived to take control.
The Anambra State Fire Service confirmed the event in a statement released on Thursday. “On Wednesday, October 30, 2024, at 9:30 AM, we received an alert about a bus engulfed in flames along the Bridge-head in Onitsha,” the statement read. “Our fire crew and equipment were promptly dispatched, extinguishing the blaze and preventing it from affecting other vehicles.”
While the cause of the fire is still unknown, officials confirmed that no lives were lost. They urged the public to report fire incidents quickly and to keep fire extinguishers in their vehicles, reminding everyone that fire can be deadly, but prevention is possible.
