35 Buses Have Burst into Flames In Costa Rica Since January

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By Wendy Anders

The Caribeño busline bus that went up in flames Weds., Nov. 30 on its way to Limón. All people aboard were uninjured.

The Caribeño busline bus that went up in flames Weds., Nov. 30 on its way to Limón. All people aboard were uninjured.

Three buses burst into flames over the past week in Costa Rica, bringing the total to at least 35 buses gone up in flames this year.

Channel 7 TV, Costa Rica’s Teletica station, reported last Wednesday on a Caribeño busline fire. According to Fire Chief Héctor Chaves, this was the 33rd bus to catch fire this year, said Teletica.

Chaves said the main causes of the fires include electrical faults and fuel spills, reported Teletica.

The Caribeño bus was traveling near Siquirres, Limón, on Route 32 when the fire broke out as they crossed over the Parismina River. The 51 passengers all managed to escape unharmed, said Teletica.

That same day, another bus from the private transport company, Solangie, was partially burned while circulating near Multiplaza Escazú, reported Diario Extra, a Costa Rica tabloid paper.

There were no passengers aboard the Solangie bus, and firefighters quickly arrived to control the flames, continued Diario Extra.

Yesterday’s burning bus, the third since last Wednesday and by best estimates the 35th of the year, was in the town of Santa Rosa de Oreamuno in Cartago, also reported on in Diario Extra. Firemen report no casualties after putting out the fire; only material losses.

According to the bus driver, there were apparently no passengers when it burst into flames. Because the fire started at the rear of the vehicle where the engine is, the driver and assistant had enough time to leave the cabin and reach safety, reported Diario Extra.

The Cartago bus driver said he had observed some mechanical troubles, but never imagined they would lead to a fire that would consume the entire bus within minutes, despite the quick response by local firefighters, said Diario Extra.

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