TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - TransJakarta bus with Blok M-Kota route caught fire around 7:35 am this morning in front of Universitas Al Azhar Mosque, South Jakarta. The whole bus was burnt down.
"The driver heard a tire burst. Then he asked the passengers to get off the bus. It turns out there was a fire flamming from the rear section," said Chief of Traffic Unit South Jakarta Resort Police, Adjunct Sr Comr. Timin Sugiyo this morning.
The bus had just departed from Metro Jaya Police Department bus stop around 7:30 a.m. when the rear side of the bus exploded and puffed out smoke. "For safety reasons, all passengers have been evacuated and there were no casualties," Timin said.
South Jakarta Fire Department deployed two fire trucks. "Fire fighters in the bus stop tried to extinguish the fire with the existing equipments but it didn't succeed. So we requested two additional fire trucks from South Jakarta," Timin said.
In the process of extinguishing, another explosion was heard of the bus tire. The fire was tamed around 9 a.m.
Police are investigating the cause of fire, and the driver was questioned at Kebayoran Baru Police Precinct.
Masjid Agung bus stop is temporary closed. Traffic flow on Jl. Sisingamangaraja towards Blok M is quiet since the vehicles heading Blok M are hesitant to pass near the burned bus.
PUTRI ADITYOWATI
