14 escape d3ath, driver injured as bus catches fire on Onitsha bridge

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."