A passenger bus traveling from Istanbul to the district of Bafra in Samsun, Turkey experienced smoke coming from the engine compartment at the Şehzadeler Tunnel area on the Samsun-Ankara highway. The driver, Cemal Sağlam, noticed the smoke filling the bus and immediately pulled over to evacuate the 38 passengers on board.
Authorities were notified and emergency response teams including firefighters, medical personnel, and police were dispatched to the scene. The bus driver and other passing drivers initially attempted to contain the situation using fire extinguishers, before the fire departments of Suluova and Merzifon arrived to extinguish the fire before it could escalate.
Three passengers were treated by medical personnel for smoke inhalation on site. The cause of the fire was not immediately clear, but it was successfully extinguished before any serious injuries occurred.
Due to the bus being unable to be restarted after the fire, the passengers were transferred to other vehicles to continue their journey. The incident caused delays on the Samsun-Ankara highway but traffic flow returned to normal after the situation was resolved.
It is vital for drivers and passengers to remain vigilant and prepared for emergency situations while traveling. Quick thinking and effective coordination among emergency response teams were crucial in preventing a potentially dangerous situation from escalating further. Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the fire to prevent similar incidents in the future and ensure the safety of all passengers on the road.
