35 Saudi tourists escape after bus catches fire in Turkey

Dubai: Thirty-five Saudi tourists narrowly escaped tragedy on Monday evening after their bus caught fire on Turkey’s Gebze-Orhangazi-Izmir motorway.

They were travelling from Bursa to Istanbul when the 41-year-old driver noticed thick smoke rising from the engine near the Gemlik Bridge.

Recognising the immediate danger, the driver acted swiftly, evacuating the passengers to a safe area. The passengers managed to exit the bus before the fire rapidly spread, engulfing the vehicle and reducing it to a heap of smouldering metal. No injuries were reported among the passengers.

Security authorities swiftly responded to the driver’s report, with the police closing the road to contain the fire. Firefighting teams arrived promptly and managed to control and extinguish the flames before they could cause further damage.

The Turkish security authorities have opened an investigation to determine the cause of the incident. In the meantime, the Saudi tourists were safely transported to Istanbul by another bus. This incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of safety during tourist trips and highlights the driver’s quick thinking and efficiency, which were pivotal in ensuring the safety of all passengers.