The VIP bus in flames
A VIP bus travelling from Kumasi to Sunyani was completely gutted by fire at Abuakwa in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region yesterday.
The incident occurred shortly after the bus left the Kumasi station, with passengers reportedly noticing smoke coming from the vehicle.
The situation worsened when the bus reached the Abuakwa stretch of the main Kumasi-Sunyani highway, forcing passengers to quickly disembark for their safety.
An eyewitness who spoke to the DAILY GUIDE said the exact cause of the fire was yet to be established, although there were suspicions that the vehicle’s engine might have overheated.
“When the smoke was detected in the vehicle, within less than five minutes, the whole bus was engulfed in flames,” the eyewitness said.
He disclosed that all the passengers managed to escape before the fire spread, adding that no casualty was recorded.
However, the bus and property belonging to passengers were completely destroyed by the inferno.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality were called to the scene and managed to bring the fire under control.
By the time the firefighters arrived, however, the bus had already been extensively damaged.
The incident also resulted in heavy traffic on the Abuakwa stretch of the highway, as motorists were forced to slow down while the emergency operation was underway.
Police officers were subsequently deployed to the area to control traffic and ease congestion.
The cause of the fire was yet to be officially established as investigations continued.
FROM David Afum, Kumasi