WATCH: KZN Department of Health bus catches alight while transporting 52 patients

A bus transporting 52 patients caught fire on Monday. Picture: Screenshot

A bus transporting 52 patients caught fire on Monday. Picture: Screenshot

Published 3h ago

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There were no injuries after a bus transporting 52 patients caught fire near Cedara in the Midlands.

The KwaZulu-Natal of Health said the Planned Patient Transport (PPT) buses from the uThukela Emergency Medical Rescue base caught fire on Monday afternoon.

Provincial Health spokesperson Nathi Oliphant said: “Fortunately, no patients were harmed in this incident.”

He said patients were safely evacuated and transported to Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.

“By midnight, all patients had been safely dropped off by EMS personnel in Estcourt, Ladysmith, Dundee and Vryheid.”

He said the department is currently investigating the cause of this incident internally.

“We wish to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident, and our EMS PPT buses remain among the safest and are staffed by highly trained personnel.”

Last month, 23 people died after a bus transporting school children and teachers caught fire on the outskirts of Bangkok in Thailand.

According to Mail Online, the bus was carrying children from the Wat Khao Phraya Sangkharam School in the Uthai Thani province.

News outlet AFP said the bus was reportedly transporting 38 children and six teachers on a school trip to a museum.

Footage of firefighters dousing the flames was shared widely on social media.

Some of the children who survived, suffered horrific burns to their faces, mouths and eyes, doctors treating them told local media.

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