ALOR GAJAH: Seventeen passengers, including a child, had a narrow escape after the express bus they were travelling in burst into flames following an accident on the North-South Expressway here.
In the 3pm incident yesterday, all passengers managed to scramble out of the bus just moments before it was engulfed in flames.
The bus was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka before the accident occurred at KM195.9 southbound of the highway.
Melaka Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Deputy Fire Superintendent Mohd Hafidzatullah Rashid said the department received an emergency call at 3.04pm.
He said a team from the Alor Gajah fire station, assisted by a water tanker unit from the Ayer Keroh station, was immediately dispatched to the scene.
“Firefighters carried out extinguishing operations using two hose lines,” he said.
Mohd Hafidzatullah said the blaze destroyed about 70% of the bus.
He added that all 17 passengers, comprising 16 adults and a child, escaped unharmed.
“A total of 10 firefighters were involved in the operation and the cause of the incident is still under investigation,” he said.
