http://english.cri.cn/6909/2013/06/07/189s769102.htm
At least 42 people died and 33 others were injured after a bus burst into flames on an elevated road in southeast China's Fujian Province on Friday evening, the local government said.
A BRT (bus rapid transit) bus caught fire near the Jinshan bus stop in the city of Xiamen at about 6:20 p.m., said an official from the municipal government.
A Xinhua reporter at the scene saw the charred frame of the bus perched on the road about ten meters above the ground. Some witnesses said they heard explosions about ten minutes after the fire broke out.
The reporter said the fire occurred during the evening rush hour, when the city's BRT buses are usually packed with commuters.
A slightly injured passenger surnamed Yang said she was using her mobile phone when she smelled gasoline and saw another passenger smashing the window in an attempt to escape.
The fire spread quickly, she recalled.
Pictures allegedly taken by witnesses and posted online showed heavy smoke as the fire engulfed the bus, as well as survivors with burns on their arms and legs.
China's social media, including Twitter-like Weibo, were buzzed with laments and posts looking for relatives and friends who were suspected of being on the bus when the fire occurred.
The fire was put out at 6:45 p.m.. The cause is under investigation.
Xiamen's BRT system became operational in 2008 as the coastal city sought to ease traffic congestion, an urban problem that has plagued many Chinese cities.
BRT buses run in separate lanes usually on elevated roads. It is now an important means of transportation for Xiamen residents.
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