32 injured in China bus fire

Thirty-two passengers were injured after a bus caught fire on Saturday afternoon in downtown Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province.

The fire broke out at around 5 p.m. Saturday when the bus with about 80 people aboard was on the Qingchun Road in the downtown of Hangzhou.

All the injured were rushed to three hospitals for treatment. At least 24 of them were in serious condition, according to the Hangzhou Health Bureau.

No death case has been reported, although doctors managed to help one injured person regain heart beating and breathing after their sudden stop.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

"So far, police have not found any clue to show the accident was related to terrorism," a source with the Hangzhou Public Security Bureautold Xinhua.

Smoke emerged in the carriage when the No.7 line bus went around at a road cross and then the bus stopped, said Zhou Dabo, a witness who was on the No. 27 line bus some 30 meters away from the No.7 line bus.

Drivers of some nearby private cars took out their extinguishers to join the efforts to put out the bus fire.

"Passengers rushed out after the bus's front door opened. Some smashed window glass and fled from the bus. Many people had smoke dust on their faces and some looked seriously injured," said another witness surnamed Xie.

"I was in the bus when I heard many people arguing in the back of the bus and then a fire broke out," said an injured person who is receiving treatment at the Hangzhou No.1 People's Hospital.

The fire had been put out at 5:50 p.m. Saturday. Traffic has resumed in the area.