Fire hits passenger bus in Maguindanao

DATU ODIN SINSUAT, Maguindanao—A fire of still unknown origin hit a traveling passenger bus in Maguindanao Monday afternoon (Oct. 11).

Lt. Colonel Rommel Dela Vega, Datu Odin Sinsuat town police chief, said the incident occurred at past 2 p.m. along the national highway in Barangay Kurintem.

The Husky bus, operated by Biocrest Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BMPC), was loaded with about 20 passengers heading to Gen. Santos City from Cotabato City when the fire broke out.

“I smelled something burning, like plastic, then I saw thick smoke at the rear part of the air-conditioned bus,” passenger Ismael Kamensa told reporters.

“All of us, including the driver and conductor, are safe,” he said.

Fire officers said investigators are still determining what triggered the fire.

The blaze emanated from the rear portion of the bus said Fire Marshall Ismael Kamid of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Maguindanao.

“The fire started at the back seat area, not in the engine compartment,” Kamid said. “We are determining if it was intentional or accidental.”

/MUF