2 Killed after Bus Overturns, Catches Fire on Nagoya Expressway

Nagoya, Aug. 22 (Jiji Press)--A bus overturned and burst into flames on an expressway in the central Japan city of Nagoya on Monday, leaving two people dead, local authorities said.

Seven others, all men, aged 20s to 50s, suffered slight injuries and were taken to hospital.

The incident occurred on the Nagoya Expressway in Kita Ward in the capital of Aichi Prefecture shortly after 10 a.m. (1 a.m. GMT). The fire was almost put out about an hour and a half later, according to the Nagoya fire department.

The bus is believed to have crashed into the dividing strip separating the main and exit lanes, climbed onto the strip and overturned onto its left side. Prefectural police are investigating the cause of the accident and working to confirm the identities of the two deceased.

The bus, almost completely burned out, was carrying eight people including the driver. The bus had a capacity of about 60. A car with no passengers apparently collided with the bus from behind and also caught fire.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]