Passengers had to be evacuated from a bus in Co Carlow on Friday evening after it caught fire.
The blaze, which broke out on a Wexford Bus shortly before 6pm at Glynn Crossroads, prompted an emergency response and traffic disruption along the N80 near the village of Ballon.
All passengers were able to safely disembark before the situation escalated. No injuries were reported.
The vehicle, operated by the private coach company, was safely pulled over to the roadside and passengers evacuated just before the fire took hold. The cause remains unknown.
RM Block
Video footage emerged online showing the fire breaking out towards the rear and rapidly spreading as the driver pulled over and passengers evacuated. By the time emergency services arrived, it was completely ablaze and empty.
Fire crews extinguished the flames but not before the vehicle was entirely destroyed. The charred frame remained at the roadside as cleanup and investigation work continued.
The road was temporarily blocked and diversions were put in place.
Witnesses reported seeing flames and thick black smoke billowing from the vehicle as emergency crews arrived on the scene.
In a statement, the company said the fire broke out on a coach travelling from Carlow to Wexford.
“The driver evacuated all passengers safely from the vehicle and nobody was injured in the incident,” it said.
“All safety protocols were followed. The vehicle involved was a modern coach with all necessary warning systems on board, thus ensuring the driver had time to safely stop the coach and evacuate the passengers. The emergency services were immediately called and nobody was injured.”
A full investigation is now under way, it said, thanking both emergency services and customers.
A garda spokeswoman said they assisted fire services at the scene of a bus fire on the N80.
“No injuries were reported. The road, which had been closed for a time, has since been reopened.”
