VIDEOS: Budapest buses caught fire, one after the other
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We previously reported that three BKV buses caught fire in rapid succession in downtown Budapest last week. On Saturday, a fourth bus joined the list at Blaha Lujza Square. Today, yet another incident occurred—this time, a bus broke down when its doors failed to open, trapping passengers inside. ATV has investigated the causes.
Yet another BKV bus goes up in smoke in Budapest
Anna Szepesfalvy, a Fidesz representative on the Budapest City Council, posted a video of the bus that filled with smoke on Saturday at the Blaha Lujza Square bus stop. Citing media reports, she suggested that the engine compartments may not have been properly cleaned. She went on to blame Budapest Mayor Gergely Karácsony and the city leadership for the repeated incidents.
As previously reported, the first BKV bus fire occurred on 13 August in the heart of the city, at József Nádor Square in District V. Passengers were evacuated, but the blaze was so intense that a nearby building was scorched by the flames. The following day, another bus caught fire in District XII, followed shortly after by yet another in the same area. In each case, the engine compartments ignited.
Here’s a video of the incident:
Saturday’s fire at Blaha Lujza Square added a fourth case to the sequence. Today, it was followed by another breakdown in Budafok involving a 251A bus. What made this latest incident even more concerning was that not only did the vehicle break down, but its doors also failed to open, trapping passengers inside for ten minutes as the bus filled with smoke.
Mayor Gergely Karácsony had already called for an investigation into the incidents last week.
Fifteen years is not long. It is lunacy to declare 15-year-old buses as outdated and in need of replacement. We are not billionaires! Budapest already doles out “free” mass transit travel to pretty much everyone except those who actually work for a living. These buses can hold out another 5-10 years.
The buses were purchased used in 2010, prior to which they had already served elsewhere. Therefore, I assume they’ll be at least 20 years old, which is about as long as can be expected from any bus that has to cope with the burden of daily use in mass transit. The self immolating examples had probably driven over 1 million km each.
It’s a pity that comments were again allowed on this site as it gives oxygen for the manifest nonsense from the likes of Steiner.
Oh my God Steve, you made me lough a lot.
Steiner, I miss his nonesense, I was reading peacefully for coupe of months!!!
:DDDDDDDDDD