27th October 2023 – (Hong Kong) A bus operating in the Discovery Bay area caught fire and was engulfed in flames at approximately 12.43pm today. The bus, belonging to the Discovery Bay Transport Services, was travelling along Caperidge Drive when the fire erupted, leading to a harrowing ordeal for the passengers and the bus driver, Mr. Yuen (68 years old). Mr. Yuen promptly assisted the passengers in evacuating the bus and immediately reported the incident for assistance. Within moments, the bus became engulfed in a fierce blaze, with flames penetrating the roof and billowing out in a menacing manner. The fire department swiftly responded to the distress call and dispatched a team equipped with fire hoses to combat the inferno, successfully extinguishing the flames.
The bus suffered extensive damage, with the upper portion of the vehicle’s framework even melting due to the intense heat. Additionally, the fire spread to a nearby bus stop, causing minor damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the incident. Several onlookers captured photographs of the incident from a distance, revealing thick black smoke rising into the sky and drifting across the bay to the opposite shore.
Preliminary information suggests that the bus’s air conditioning system malfunctioned prior to the fire. It was during the evacuation process, as instructed by the driver, that the fire broke out. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined and will be subject to further investigation