A blaze at Multiobus, a subcontractor of the Flemish local transport company De Lijn, last night left 24 buses gutted by fire.
The fire broke out shortly after midnight and engulfed a bus depot on an industrial site in Tienen (Flemish Brabant). The smoke from the blaze that destroyed both electric and diesel buses could be seen for kilometres in the surroundings.
Fortunately nobody was injured but 13 electric buses and 11 diesel buses have been destroyed. Fire-fighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to nearby buildings.
Loud bangs caused by the blaze roused many local residents, who were told to keep doors and windows closed, but the smoke was found not to be toxic.
Multiobus has been pioneering electric buses for many years. The fire is a dreadful blow to the company: the lion’s share of its electric fleet has been destroyed.
The fire has led to major disruption to bus services in the Tienen area. Fire-investigators now hope to establish the cause of the blaze.