A Yutong bus was completely destroyed by fire on the Mankessim–Accra Highway in the early hours of Tuesday after an electrical fault sparked a blaze, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has said.
According to the GNFS, a distress call was received at 4:34 a.m. reporting a vehicular fire involving the passenger bus. Firefighters were immediately dispatched to the scene and arrived at 4:40 a.m., where they found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames.
The Service said passengers and passers-by had made unsuccessful attempts to put out the fire before the arrival of the firefighters.
Upon reaching the scene, the Officer-in-Charge directed the crew to deploy firefighting hoses to contain the blaze. After several hours of operations, firefighters successfully brought the fire under control and fully extinguished it by 7:12 a.m.
Preliminary investigations by the GNFS indicate that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.
The blaze completely destroyed the Yutong bus, passengers’ belongings and about 20 crates of drinks being transported on the vehicle. However, firefighters managed to salvage some passengers’ luggage and other personal effects from the burning bus.
The GNFS said its personnel secured the scene to prevent any further danger before returning to the station at 7:18 a.m.
No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.
The Fire Service has urged motorists and commercial transport operators to ensure regular maintenance of their vehicles, particularly their electrical systems, to reduce the risk of similar incidents.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI