Explosion on passenger bus leaves dozens injured or dead.
(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of February 17th, a serious accident occurred on National Highway 1A in Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district, resulting in multiple casualties.
According to a witness who was injured on the bus, at approximately 3:50 PM, a 50-seat bus with license plate 37B 00348, carrying over 30 passengers from Thuan-Sang bus company (located in Quynh Luong commune, Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province), was traveling on National Highway 1A in the direction of Vinh-Hanoi. At kilometer 412 + 900 (in Dien Hong commune, Dien Chau district), a sudden explosion occurred. Looking out, he saw his bus collide head-on with an oncoming truck with license plate 37C 051 24. Both buses were completely destroyed, and the two drivers and one passenger died instantly. Dozens of other passengers on the bus were injured.
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| The scene of the accident |
Immediately after the accident occurred, the Traffic Police Team 5-1 (based in Dien Chau district) and the Dien Chau district police, along with other relevant authorities, arrived at the scene to provide first aid to the injured and regulate traffic. Ambulances from nearby hospitals in Quynh Luu, Dien Chau, and Yen Thanh districts were mobilized to provide emergency transportation.
At Dien Hong Hospital (about 1 km from the accident site), patient Nguyen Van Nguyet, 60 years old, residing in Hamlet 16, Quynh Luong Commune, Quynh Luu District, Nghe An Province, who suffered a fractured jaw and three broken teeth, stated, "Before the explosion, the Thuan Sang bus had an oxygen cylinder on board. This cylinder belonged to a passenger who had just exchanged it in Vinh and was returning home when it exploded, causing the accident."
According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc, Deputy Head of the Traffic Safety Committee of Nghe An province, as of 6 PM on February 17th, two victims of the bus explosion have died. The initial cause is believed to be an explosion of a gas cylinder or oxygen tank on the bus.
The accident caused traffic congestion.
Text and photos:Xuan Bay
