Seven dead after bus fire following crash in Vietnam

Seven people were killed and five others injured after a sleeper bus caught fire following a crash along National Highway 1 in Vietnam’s Dong Nai province early Monday, July 20, local authorities told Vietnamese media.

The 24-bed bus was travelling through Hung Thinh Commune, more than 30 kilometres from Bien Hoa City, at around 2:30 a.m. when it veered off course and struck a roadside embankment on the right side of the highway.

After the initial impact, the vehicle continued moving before colliding with a second embankment and coming to a stop. Flames then erupted from underneath the bus and rapidly spread, engulfing the passenger cabin.

The driver, identified as 41-year-old Tran Thanh Hai, shouted for passengers to evacuate, but the fire intensified too quickly for many to escape.

Firefighters from Dong Nai’s Fire Prevention, Firefighting, and Rescue Police were dispatched to the scene along with two specialised fire engines. Emergency crews brought the blaze under control after approximately 30 minutes.

Authorities later recovered the bodies of seven victims from the charred remains of the bus.

Five injured passengers were transported to Thong Nhat General Hospital for emergency treatment. One of the injured, who sustained minor injuries, has since been discharged.

By Tamilla Hasanova