Bus catches fire on the road in Sorsogon

Chaos ensued among passengers aboard a bus upon reaching Barangay Pawa, Matnog, Sorsogon when their ride caught fire.

According to one passenger, even before the bus could come to a halt, a piece of wood and some materials fell off from the rear part of the bus near Camarines Norte.

According to another passenger, the bus reportedly hit a tree and nearly fell off a cliff in Camarines Norte before the incident in Sorsogon.

The bus was headed to Samar from Manila.

The driver had to rest frequently because he was the only one manning the vehicle.

"Pag tumakbo siya ng 15 minutes, matutulog na naman ulit [yung driver], kaya nakikiusap kami... marami na kami [na nagsasabi], [pero] hindi niya kami iniintindi, [sabi namin], 'Kuya kung hindi niyo kaya, i-transfer niyo kami ng ibang bus, natatakot na po kami,'” Gemma Racab Dacuma, a passenger, said.

Upon reaching Matnog, smoke started coming out from somewhere near the engine. The passengers disembarked swiftly when the bus pulled to a stop.

No one was hurt but some of the passengers’ belongings were destroyed by the flames.

Authorities have opened an investigation into the incident.

"Yung driver na-high blood ata, nagpa-BP daw, di pa namin nalo-locate kung nasaan [yung driver], pero with the help of PNP (Philippine National Police), in-invite na namin [siya] sa fire station para makuhanan ng statement," SFO4 Rene Ariate, Officer in Charge of Matnog Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), said. — GMA Regional TV