Minibus Packed With Chems Explodes Into Fireball On Mway

This viral footage – already seen over 17 million times in six hours – shows a minibus carrying chemicals exploding into a huge fireball with a boom in the middle of a busy motorway.

The accident happened on Chengdu’s 3rd Ring Road in the capital of Sichuan Province in south-western China today (5th August).

Video Credit: AsiaWire

The blaze started at 12:50pm local time when the white NAVECO minibus caught fire on the busy expressway.

Video shows the vehicle having been parked on the side of the road as the fire rages out of control, clouds of thick grey smoke rising high into the air.

Credit: AsiaWire
The burning minibus explodes in Chengdu, China

Witnesses said the bus’s middle-aged male driver was seen escaping the burning wreckage and then attempting to tackle the fire with an extinguisher.

However, he later gave up and ran away when he was unable to stop the blaze.

Footage of the fire captured from nearby and far away shows the entire minibus then exploded into a huge fireball, with two loud blasts heard and seen by witnesses.

Credit: AsiaWire
The burning minibus explodes in Chengdu, China

Motorists can be seen hooting their car horns and quickly reversing away in an attempt to avoid falling victim to the fire, while smoke from the blaze was seen from several miles away.

Chengdu’s Emergency Management Office has revealed the fire and explosions were caused by a shipment of sodium chlorate in the minibus.

Credit: AsiaWire
The burning minibus explodes in Chengdu, China

The driver has been detained for questioning but it is unclear why he was carrying the hazardous cargo in the passenger vehicle.

No others were inside the minibus at the time at the time of the incident.

Further investigations are ongoing.


To find out more about the author, editor or agency that supplied this story – please click below.
Story By: John FengSub-EditorJoseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report


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