A bus caught fire, Tuesday morning on the RN 17 between Lens and Arras (Pas-de-Calais), but its 59 passengers were able to escape unharmed after quickly being evacuated by the driver
The fire started around 9 am, “caused by a technical problem at the back of the bus” of a private carrier, reported a spokesman for the prefecture of Pas-de-Calais.
“All the passengers got out before help arrived and no one was injured” , he said, after the assistance of the driver managing to get everyone to safety quickly.
A huge blaze soon took hold of the bus, with huge plumes of black smoke, which reduced the vehicle to a completely charred skeleton.
The RN 17 was cut in both directions for nearly an hour before reopening shortly before 10 am.
