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Fatal bus fire on German motorway Fatal bus fire on German motorway
(about 7 hours later)
Up to 20 people have been killed and several injured in a bus fire on a motorway near Hanover in Germany.Up to 20 people have been killed and several injured in a bus fire on a motorway near Hanover in Germany.
The bus had been travelling to Berlin when the fire broke out, trapping some passengers, most of whom were reported to be elderly.The bus had been travelling to Berlin when the fire broke out, trapping some passengers, most of whom were reported to be elderly.
But 10 people were able to escape from the vehicle after the fire started, on the A2 Autobahn.But 10 people were able to escape from the vehicle after the fire started, on the A2 Autobahn.
The cause of the fire is not yet known but some reports say the fire may have been started by a cigarette.The cause of the fire is not yet known but some reports say the fire may have been started by a cigarette.
"Someone was smoking secretly in the toilet and that's what started the fire. It happens," said Oliver Pehl, whose mother is the owner of the coach company."Someone was smoking secretly in the toilet and that's what started the fire. It happens," said Oliver Pehl, whose mother is the owner of the coach company.
However, officials said it was too early to be sure of the cause and a technical fault could be to blame.However, officials said it was too early to be sure of the cause and a technical fault could be to blame.
Mr Pehl said he had driven the coach himself in the past and it had never had any problems.Mr Pehl said he had driven the coach himself in the past and it had never had any problems.
"It is terrible, just terrible that so many people lost their lives," he said."It is terrible, just terrible that so many people lost their lives," he said.
'Deeply shaken''Deeply shaken'
A police spokesman, speaking anonymously, said the bus had caught fire while driving along and that no other vehicle had been involved.A police spokesman, speaking anonymously, said the bus had caught fire while driving along and that no other vehicle had been involved.
"The passengers did not manage to get out of the burning vehicle in time," he said."The passengers did not manage to get out of the burning vehicle in time," he said.
Reports say the bus had pulled into the hard shoulder after catching fire.Reports say the bus had pulled into the hard shoulder after catching fire.
"I just saw smoke and then I got closer and closer and realised that a coach was on fire," eyewitness Nadia Possberg told Reuters."I just saw smoke and then I got closer and closer and realised that a coach was on fire," eyewitness Nadia Possberg told Reuters.
Another eyewitness said what he saw was "just horrible".Another eyewitness said what he saw was "just horrible".
A fire department spokesman, Joerg Segreff, told AP that 12 people had been injured, three of them with serious burns.A fire department spokesman, Joerg Segreff, told AP that 12 people had been injured, three of them with serious burns.
German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said he was "deeply shaken by the dreadful fate of the victims of the fire" and sent his condolences to their families, reported AFP.German Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee said he was "deeply shaken by the dreadful fate of the victims of the fire" and sent his condolences to their families, reported AFP.
Mr Tiefensee said there would have to be an investigation into the cause of the fire and whether safety regulations had been followed.Mr Tiefensee said there would have to be an investigation into the cause of the fire and whether safety regulations had been followed.