A Hungarian-registered tourist bus carrying 27 young passengers and their accompanying adults caught fire while travelling through Austria on Thursday.
According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, the incident occurred on the S6 expressway in the province of Styria near Hönigsberg. More than 30 people were travelling on the bus when passengers noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine compartment. According to Feuerwehrobjektiv.at, the group was on its way to Klagenfurt. Austrian media reports suggest the young passengers were members of a football team.
Quick-thinking driver helps avert tragedy
The driver reacted immediately after the fire was detected, pulling the vehicle over and evacuating everyone on board. All passengers, including the 27 Hungarian youngsters, managed to leave the burning bus safely and without injuries. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene, with several firefighting units responding to tackle the blaze.
Bus declared a total loss
Although firefighters successfully brought the fire under control, the rear section of the vehicle was severely damaged. According to police information cited by Austrian media, the bus was destroyed and has been declared a total loss. Investigators believe the fire was likely caused by a technical fault that developed in the engine compartment.
Journey continued on replacement bus
Following the incident, the stranded passengers were transferred to a replacement bus and were able to continue their journey. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported despite the severity of the fire. The successful evacuation prevented what could have become a far more serious incident, as the flames spread rapidly through the rear of the vehicle after passengers had already reached safety.
If you missed it: 8 foreign nationals killed in motorway tragedy in Hungary, PM demands urgent report
