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Investigators have found that one of the back exit doors on the bus that burst into flames in Taiwan on Tuesday, killing 26 people, was locked.
The other rear exit also couldn’t be opened as it was blocked by a roadside barrier after the coach smashed into the fence near Taoyuan International Airport, stopping passengers and crew from escaping.
The front section of the bus, carrying 24 tourists from Liaoning province in mainland China, was ablaze before it rammed into a crash barrier, police said.
There were eight emergency exits on the bus, but the front section was on fire and passengers could only attempt to use the rear doors to get out.
The right rear door was blocked by the highway barrier and could only open 10cm, while the left rear door was locked with an extra bolt.
Lu Jui-yao, a highway police chief, said on Tuesday: “Nine bodies were found close together in the rear part of the bus, indicating they might have tried to escape via the emergency exit.”
The victims included two girls and a boy aged about 13, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau said.
The tourists were returning home after an eight-day tour to scenic spots, including Sun Moon Lake and Alishan in Taiwan.
An investigator examines the front of the coach. Phot: Reuters
The driver and tour guide were also killed.
The findings have prompted fierce criticism among internet users in Taiwan, questioning why an emergency exit should be locked.
A TV talk show on Chung T’ien Television also questioned why the tourists were not aware or told that they could use hammers on the bus to smash windows and escape.
The mainland tabloid the Global Times described the comments as “stupid questions” and cited comments from other internet users saying “mainlanders are humans, too”
Chung T’ien Television issued a statement to apologise for what it called a “misunderstanding”.
The show was meant to remind Taiwanese travel agencies of their duty to properly educate all tourists on safety precautions, the statement said.
(SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST)
