26 passengers escape burning bus near Kuching
SERIAN: Twenty-six passengers of an express bus bound for Miri cheated death when their vehicle caught fire at Km30 of Jalan Serian-Sri Aman near Balai Ringin here today.
One of the two bus drivers, however, sustained burns on his left ear and left arm in the 2.15pm incident.
It was not immediately known what triggered the fire, which destroyed 80 per cent of the vehicle.
A State Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said eight firefighters in one engine were deployed to the scene upon receiving a distress call at about 3pm.
"Volunteer firefighters, together with people nearby, assisted in putting out the fire," he said.
The injured driver received outpatient treatment at the Balai Ringin government health clinic here.
The spokesman said the bus had departed from the Kuching Central bus terminal.
"We are still ascertaining the cause of the fire," he added.