VIP bus catches fire on Kumasi-Sunyani road, passengers escape
Passengers escaped moments before a VIP bus travelling from Kumasi to Sunyani was engulfed in flames, destroying the vehicle and passengers’ belongings and causing heavy traffic on the busy route.
Passengers fled a VIP bus after it began emitting smoke on the Kumasi-Sunyani road, but the vehicle was destroyed by fire before firefighters could contain the blaze.
Passengers narrowly escaped injury after a VIP bus travelling from Kumasi to Sunyani caught fire at Abuakwa in Ghana's Ashanti Region.
The bus had reportedly just left Kumasi when passengers noticed smoke coming from the vehicle.
By the time it reached the Abuakwa stretch of the Kumasi-Sunyani road, the smoke had intensified and passengers were forced to evacuate.
Eyewitness Ofori Boateng said the bus was engulfed in flames within minutes.
“When the vehicle started smoking, within less than five minutes, the whole bus was engulfed in flames,” he said.
The cause of the fire has not yet been established, although there were suspicions that the engine may have overheated.
No casualties reported
All the passengers managed to get out before the fire spread across the bus.
No injuries or deaths were reported.
However, the vehicle was completely destroyed, along with belongings left behind by some passengers.
Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service responded to the incident and worked to put out the flames.
By the time firefighters arrived, however, the bus had already suffered extensive damage.
Traffic disrupted
The incident caused heavy traffic along the Abuakwa section of the Kumasi-Sunyani road.
Police officers were deployed to manage the situation and help ease congestion.
The incident comes amid continuing concerns about road safety and the condition of commercial vehicles operating on Ghana's roads.
Authorities have not yet announced the cause of the fire.