XIAMEN - Initial investigation shows the fatal fire that has claimed 47 lives and hospitalized 34 in east China's Fujian Province is a "serious criminal case", local government said on Saturday morning.
A BRT (bus rapid transit) bus caught fire near the Jinshan bus stop in the city of Xiamen at about 6:20 p.m. Friday, said an official from the municipal government.
The police investigation shows that the tyres and oil tank of the bus remained complete. Also the combustion improver was testified as gasoline while the bus is equipped with diesel engine, all suggested that the cause could eliminate safety accident.
The government official said the case is previously identified of a serious criminal case and further investigation is under way.
The State Council, China's cabinet, has sent a work team led by State Councilor and Public Security Minister Guo Shengkun to Xiamen on Friday evening to oversee the investigation of the fire.
The work team has cooperated with provincial government in forming medical plans in carrying out all-out efforts in treatment.
【新闻快讯】
6月7日18时20分许，福建省厦门市湖里区金山街道一辆BRT公交车（快速公交车）在行驶过程中突然起火。18时45分，火被扑灭。据初步勘查，大火已造成47人死亡、34人受伤。据悉，事发地点位于蔡塘站往金山站之间，事故车号为闽D-Y7396。
快速公交是厦门市公交的主力军，人流量大，尤其是上下班高峰时间，都是人满为患。当时正值下班高峰期，公交车上挤满了下班的人，现场目击者估计有百人。有目击者说，当时突然看到有黑烟冒起，烟很大，车上人员紧急逃生。火烧了约10分钟后，车辆发生爆炸。
【沪江科普】什么是BRT？
BRT：快速公交系统（Bus Rapid Transit），是一种介于快速轨道交通RRT（Rapid Rail Transit）与常规公交NBT（Normal Bus Transit）之间的新型公共客运系统，是一种大运量交通方式，通常也被人称作“地面上的地铁系统”。
