Tragedy was narrowly averted on Friday as all passengers aboard an 18-seater commercial bus escaped unhurt after the vehicle was engulfed in flames in the Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
According to eyewitnesses, the fully loaded bus was en route from Owerri, Imo State, to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, when it suddenly caught fire. The blaze, described as fierce and rapid, forced the driver, conductor, and all passengers to leap out of the vehicle to safety.
Witnesses recounted that some passengers sustained minor injuries, such as bruises, while scrambling to escape through the doors and windows. Unfortunately, the bus and the goods it carried were completely destroyed.
“It was clearly an electrical issue,” one witness explained. “The fire broke out suddenly and spread so quickly that there was no time to rescue anything. Everyone just focused on escaping.”
Another bystander, identified only as Tony, said, “They were coming from Owerri. The fire started all of a sudden, and everyone ran out. The bus got completely burnt, but thankfully, no lives were lost.”
The incident caused panic and heavy traffic at the busy Igwuruta roundabout, as other motorists diverted to avoid the scene. Onlookers gathered at a distance to watch the fire consume the vehicle.
Despite the severity of the fire and the risk of escalation, no fire service personnel were present at the scene. However, efforts by bystanders and road users helped contain the fire from spreading to nearby vehicles.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she had not yet received details of the incident but promised to investigate and respond accordingly. As of Friday evening, no further updates had been provided.