At least 20 people dead in Peru bus fire: emergency services

TIL Desk/World/Lima/ A number of the victims burned to death, trapped on the upper level of the interprovincial bus in Lima, firefighters said. Passersby described scenes of panic and cries of terror. Much of the vehicle was reduced to a skeleton, and the corpses of some victims could still be seen in the seats.  Others asphyxiated on the stairway connecting the upper and lower levels.

The tragedy reflected the chaos of Peru’s public transport system, particularly in the capital of 10 million people where authorities are overwhelmed by transport problems. Initial reports said an electrical fault at the rear of the bus triggered the blaze just after 7:30 pm (0030 GMT).

“The fire led to the deaths of at least 20 people,” said Lewis Mejia, a fire department official. Authorities did not say how many people were on board. One unidentified man, broken by grief, told local television that he had lost six family members including his wife, children and grandchildren. Lima’s Mayor Jorge Munoz visited the injured in hospital and announced an investigation to punish those responsible.