At least 12 people were burned to death when a fire engulfed a packed bus in Central Kalimantan province in the Indonesian part of Borneo, ANTARA quoted local media reports as saying today. The accident took place Saturday when the bus, packed with nearly 47 people onboard, burst into flames as it arrived in the provincial capital of Palangkaraya, about 860 kilometres northeast of Jakarta, from Pangkalanbun district town. The blaze quickly spread through the vehicle, the state-run Antara news agency reported. 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. At least five others were hospitalized with burns. Local district police chief Nuryadi Purtono was quoted as saying that the driver pulled over when he saw flames pouring from the engine, and the blaze spread quickly through the bus. Most of the victims were sitting in the front seats. It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, but it appeared to have been an accident, Purtono said. The bus' driver was being held for questioning.
