A MyCiTi bus burst into flames on the M5 highway in Cape Town, close to the N2 and Berkley Road junction.
MyCiTi Bus Crash M5: Engine Fire Halts Bus Near N2 Junction
The incident resulted in no injuries thanks to quick action by the driver.
According to the City of Cape Town, the bus was travelling north on the M5 when the driver noticed that the engine was overheating.
This means the engine temperature was rising too high, which can be dangerous. In response, the driver pulled over and stopped the bus to prevent any damage or risk to the passengers.
Andrew Harris, who oversees the city’s Integrated Rapid Transit Program, confirmed that the driver told all passengers to get off the bus as a safety measure.
“The bus was stopped because of an overheating engine. The driver instructed everyone to disembark, and they were safely picked up by another MyCiTi bus that followed shortly after,” Harris explained.
Once the bus was empty and stationary on the side of the road, it suddenly caught fire. Smoke and flames were seen coming from the engine area. Emergency services were called to the scene to extinguish the fire.
Thankfully, because the passengers were removed in time, no one was hurt. The cause of the fire is not yet known, but an investigation is underway to determine what led to the blaze.
The City of Cape Town has asked all motorists who use the M5 highway to drive carefully, especially near the area of Berkley Road and the N2 off-ramp. Officials said traffic was disrupted briefly while the burning bus was being cleared from the road.
The City has not yet released a timeline on when the investigation will be completed or whether any technical faults were involved.