Bus catches fire near EDSA tunnel

An air-conditioned passenger bus caught fire on EDSA in Makati City yesterday, giving a slight scare to early morning motorists who have just read about the fatal bus bombing in Quezon City.

This time, however, the incident was blamed on mechanical trouble, not terrorists.

The Makati Police reported that a Jell Transit bus bound for Alabang, Muntinlupa caught fire while traveling on the southbound lane of EDSA near Pasay Road at around 7:30 a.m.

Initial investigation revealed that as the bus approached the tunnel below Ayala Avenue, one of its tires blew out.

Orlando Tabones, the driver of the bus, told police that he and his conductor directed the passengers to alight from the vehicle as a safety precaution.

After the bus was cleared of passengers, Tabones tried to drive through the tunnel despite the flat, causing its brakes to malfunction and burn.

The fire quickly spread through the bus as Tabones and his conductor fled to safety.

Members of the Makati Fire Department and the Makati Rescue unit arrived at the scene and put out the blaze before towing the bus to an impounding area.

Superintendent Jose Salido, chief of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Makati Police, said the incident was a case of a simple malfunction. – Marvin Sy