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Bus bursts into flames in downtown Beijing

By Zhang Yan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-09-21 15:21

At 6 am Monday morning, a No. 17 bus suddenly caught fire in the north of Puhuangyu intersection, near the South Second Ring Road in Beijing's Chongwen District.

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The accident caused no casualties and an investigation is still being carried out on the possible causes.

"The bus was powered by natural gas. Initial inquiries show the cause of the fire is likely to have been a natural gas leak from the bus pipeline control," the Beijing Public Transportation Group told China Daily.

At the time the bus caught fire, it was not under operation, but on its way back to the bus terminal. Therefore the driver was the only one on board. He escaped from the vehicle and attempted to put out the fire using the fire-extinguisher equipped with the bus. But as the blaze was too big, he dialed 119 for emergency services in time.

After answering the emergency call, Beijing Fangzhang Squadron Fire Department immediately sent three fire engines; 21 firefighters rushed to the scene, and quickly controlled the fire, according to the Beijing Fire Bureau.