Fourteen passengers narrowly escaped a fatal accident when a Toyota Hiace bus they were traveling in caught fire on the Old Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State. The incident, which took place on Wednesday, left the bus driver with minor injuries while the passengers managed to jump out to safety as the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire caused hours of gridlock as bystanders and firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze.

Eyewitness and local trader Obiora Uzor recounted that the passengers quickly evacuated the vehicle when the fire erupted. “The bus suddenly went up in flames while moving, causing panic as passengers scrambled to escape,” he said. Although the cause of the fire remains unknown, it reportedly started from the front of the bus.

The Anambra State Fire Service confirmed the incident, noting that they received an emergency call around 9:30 a.m. and promptly dispatched a crew to control the blaze. “The fire was contained before it could spread to other vehicles on the bridge,” the statement read, further advising the public to equip vehicles with fire extinguishers and promptly alert authorities in the event of an emergency.

By Thursday evening, the burnt vehicle remained at the scene, moved to the side to prevent further obstruction on the busy bridge.