Electric double-decker bus catches fire during morning rush hour in London

An electric double-decker bus caught fire in London on Thursday, authorities said, causing road closures during the morning rush hour.

The fire broke out on a road in the Wimbledon area of ​​the city. No injuries were reported, according to the London Fire Brigade, which is investigating the cause of the fire.

Videos on social media showed part of the bus on fire, with smoke billowing from the vehicle and firefighters closing nearby roads.

The brigade said it was called to the scene at around 7am, and around 15 firefighters from Wimbledon, New Malden and Wandsworth assisted.

Max Pashley, who witnessed the fire, told the story City AMa London publication, that he had ‘heard a huge bang’.

“We were terrified,” he said.

Tom Cunnington, head of bus business development at Transport for London, the government agency responsible for most of the city’s transport network, said the bus was quickly evacuated after the fire started.

“Safety is our top priority and we are working with the operator, London General, and bus manufacturer Switch, to investigate what happened,” Mr Cunnington said in a statement.

Red double-decker buses have long held a special place in British culture and have remained a symbol of London. In recent years, the iconic red buses have become greener.

Transport for London reports that “more than 1,000 zero-emission buses operate in our fleet – both single and double deck vehicles, built by a range of manufacturers in the UK and globally.”

These newer electric buses are equipped with LED screens on both levels, USB charging ports and panoramic roofing on the upper deck.