Fatal Panama bus fire 'caused by mechanical problems'

Mechanical problems caused a fire on a bus in Panama’s capital, which killed at least 18 people.

The blaze resulted in 25 passengers being injured and led to them jumping from the burning vehicle.

Investigators using trained dogs found no evidence of explosives on the city bus and believed some form of fuel leak was to blame for yesterday’s blaze.

The bus did not have an emergency exit.

Jaime Jacome, director of Panama City’s Technical Judicial Police, said: “We found absolutely no trace of the presence of explosives.

“What there was was a lot of gasoline.”

Witnesses said they saw smoke pouring from the area around the engine seconds before the bus caught fire.

Authorities were checking the charred remains of the motor and bus for clues.

Many passengers were seen scrambling to get off before flames engulfed the bus. At least 25 people managed to escape but all were hospitalised with severe burns.

Firefighter Cecilio Lasso said four of the 18 killed were children.

The fire occurred in the Bellavista section of downtown Panama City. The remains of those killed were originally laid out on a crowded street, but eventually removed by emergency crews.

Traffic was backed up in all directions for hours and television stations beamed gruesome scenes of the aftermath live to all of Panama.

“The victims were piled up in the back of the bus one on top of the other,” Jacome said. “We are analysing the motor to determine the cause of the fire.”

Ovigildo Herrera, deputy director of transportation authorities, said the bus was operating with faulty brakes and no licence plates.

“That bus didn’t meet safety standards,” he said.