Twenty-five people were killed and 76 injured when a bus caught fire in southwestern China on Friday, state media reported.
Police said they were not sure how the fire broke out aboard the bus in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, state news agency Xinhua reported, adding that investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the blaze.
Six of the injured were in critical condition, it added.
The blaze erupted aboard the diesel-powered bus at about 8:00 am (0000 GMT) in the northern part of the city, state television reported.
Xinhua quoted the relative of a wounded passenger saying there was a "strange smell" inside the bus as it travelled along a viaduct.
"But the driver refused to stop and said the smell should be dealt with after the bus was off the viaduct," said the relative.
More than 10 people managed to escape the flames, according to Xinhua.
Graphic images, believed to be from the blaze, were posted on Chinese websites showing a bus engulfed in flames and casualties covered in blood.
Local officials were not immediately available for comment.
Share This Article With Planet Earth
