Bus blaze claimed 8 students
By Yang Jian |
June 11, 2013, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Eight students who were reported missing after a bus fire in east China's Xiamen City were confirmed dead after DNA tests, local authorities said yesterday.
A total of 15 secondary vocational school students were returning home on the BRT (bus rapid transit) after participating in a college entrance exam last Friday. Seven other students were injured after an arsonist started a fire on the bus, the Xiamen government said.
The blaze claimed 47 lives and injured 34 others.
Police also confirmed yesterday that Chen Shuizong, a native of the city, started the fire on the bus which was carrying 90 passengers. He died in the blaze.
Investigations revealed that Chen, 59, bought gasoline at an oil selling spot in the city at around 4pm on Wednesday. He left home at 4pm on Friday taking a foldable cart with a weaved bag and got on to the bus, police said.
Police found remains of the cart and pieces of the bag at the spot where the fire was ignited on the bus. They also found an iron barrel with traces of gasoline still in it at Chen's home.
"Many surviving passengers have also identified Chen as the person who lit the gasoline that caused the inferno at the back of the bus while it was running between Jianshan and Caitang stations," the local government said in a statement.
Police also found two notes written by Chen to his wife and daughter that reflected his pessimistic view of life. They said he planned the arson to vent his personal grievances.
Flames engulfed the bus within minutes during the evening rush hour. Pictures taken by witnesses posted online shows heavy smokes and survivors with burns on their arms and legs.
The injured people are being treated at two local hospitals.
"Nobody will understand my feeling. I took part in the exam with full preparation and confidence but encountered this terrible thing," Yang Jiali, one of the students who survived the blaze, said yesterday. She suffered a bone fracture on her arms but is in stable condition.
The Xiamen Education Bureau said yesterday that the seven students will be admitted to colleges and universities according to the scores of their exam on Friday as well as after taking their past performances into account.
Fifteen passengers are still in critical condition. Some of them have undergone surgeries or are in intensive care, Yang Shuyu, director of the Xiamen Health Bureau, said yesterday.
"They face the threat of infection and multiple organ failures in the coming days, though they have survived the critical 24 hours."
A total of 15 secondary vocational school students were returning home on the BRT (bus rapid transit) after participating in a college entrance exam last Friday. Seven other students were injured after an arsonist started a fire on the bus, the Xiamen government said.
The blaze claimed 47 lives and injured 34 others.
Police also confirmed yesterday that Chen Shuizong, a native of the city, started the fire on the bus which was carrying 90 passengers. He died in the blaze.
Investigations revealed that Chen, 59, bought gasoline at an oil selling spot in the city at around 4pm on Wednesday. He left home at 4pm on Friday taking a foldable cart with a weaved bag and got on to the bus, police said.
Police found remains of the cart and pieces of the bag at the spot where the fire was ignited on the bus. They also found an iron barrel with traces of gasoline still in it at Chen's home.
"Many surviving passengers have also identified Chen as the person who lit the gasoline that caused the inferno at the back of the bus while it was running between Jianshan and Caitang stations," the local government said in a statement.
Police also found two notes written by Chen to his wife and daughter that reflected his pessimistic view of life. They said he planned the arson to vent his personal grievances.
Flames engulfed the bus within minutes during the evening rush hour. Pictures taken by witnesses posted online shows heavy smokes and survivors with burns on their arms and legs.
The injured people are being treated at two local hospitals.
"Nobody will understand my feeling. I took part in the exam with full preparation and confidence but encountered this terrible thing," Yang Jiali, one of the students who survived the blaze, said yesterday. She suffered a bone fracture on her arms but is in stable condition.
The Xiamen Education Bureau said yesterday that the seven students will be admitted to colleges and universities according to the scores of their exam on Friday as well as after taking their past performances into account.
Fifteen passengers are still in critical condition. Some of them have undergone surgeries or are in intensive care, Yang Shuyu, director of the Xiamen Health Bureau, said yesterday.
"They face the threat of infection and multiple organ failures in the coming days, though they have survived the critical 24 hours."
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