While on its way from the central city of Da Nang to central highland province of Dak Nong, the sleeper coach, carrying 35 passengers, suddendly burst into flame. The accident took place at 6.20 p.m yesterday in the central province of Quang Nam, about 50 kilometers from Da Nang city. Nguyen Quy, 34 years old driver, stopped the bus on the side of the road after noticing the vehicle was on fire. Eyewitnesses said the fire spread toward the cabin while the passengers managed to escape screaming and shouting.
Colonel Le Pham Minh Man, Deputy Chief of Traffic Police in Thang Binh District, said there were 35 passangers on the coach when the accident happened. Fortunately all of them managed to escapse before the coach was set on flame.
Eyewitnesses said a powerful explosion sent flames several meters through the air. Quoc Dat sleeper coach – which was not overcrowded – had departed Da Nang late afternoon on Wednesday and was heading to the central provincial of Dak Nong when the accident occurred.
The sleeper coach was totally destroyed by the fire. The police said the coach might have been carrying flammable materials or the electronic wire could have short-circuted and burnt out.
All 35 passengers and the driver managed to escape death by minutes however all their personal possessions were gone with the fire.
About 3 hours after the accident, police sent a tow truck to the scene so the road was clear for traffic.
