The head of Comtrans in the Leningrad region, Mikhail Prisyazhnyuk, reported that the burned passenger bus had been in operation for only 50 days. This detail was echoed by the Telegram channel 78. News. A legal action against the bus manufacturer is being prepared.
The Comtrans president stated that the bus was brand new and under warranty, having been in service for just over seven weeks.
He noted that the driver acted quickly to evacuate passengers, ensuring that everyone got out safely and that no injuries occurred. The official cause of the incident was identified as a spontaneous bus fire triggered by a technical fault.
The event occurred in the inner ring of the Ring Road near Gorelovo, with reports indicating that the fire started in the driver’s cabin and subsequently spread to a portion of the cabin.
Last year in St. Petersburg, roughly 20 buses of various brands were damaged or destroyed by fires. Industry experts, speaking to socialbites.ca, questioned the underlying reasons behind the transport issues in the northern capital and whether these problems could escalate into serious emergencies.
Previously, Volgabas Group of Companies reviewed bus routes in St. Petersburg. The company plans to conduct additional inspections in collaboration with operating organizations to raise the security standards of bus systems.
There have been past instances where officials from public services promised compensation to car owners affected by sewer drownings, underscoring ongoing concerns about public transport and municipal infrastructure safety.