Fire in Indonesian passenger bus kills twelve people

Fire in Indonesian passenger bus kills twelve people

Twelve people, including three children, were killed by fire in a passenger bus in central Indonesia.

The bus burst into flames as it arrived in Palangkaraya in the province of Central Kalimantan, and the blaze quickly spread through the vehicle, said Lt. Col. Nuryadi, a local police chief.

Many passengers escaped through the back exit, but 12 people died including a baby and two other children, said Nuryadi, who uses only one name. Six others were hospitalized with burns, he said.

The driver was being held for questioning, Nuryadi said.

Road accidents are common on Indonesia's crowded highways, where buses and trucks are poorly maintained and traffic laws are often ignored.