Bus carrying children catches on fire
More than 30 children have been safely evacuated after their bus suddenly burst into flames while travelling on a major Queensland motorway.
Emergency services were called to the blaze after the coach went up in flames while travelling southbound on the M1 between Exit 62 and Exit 66 at Helensvale, about 10am on Saturday.
A Queensland Fire and Emergency Services spokeswoman confirmed two crews were called to the scene, with the first arriving at 10.07am to find the bus “well involved in flames”.
She said everyone on the bus was accounted for by 10.10am and firefighters entered the bus to conduct a search.
The fire was extinguished by 10.24am after firefighters made the scene safe by dampening down any hotspots.
A Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman confirmed a man in his 50s, believed to be the bus driver, suffered injuries and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
She said all 34 children were safely evacuated from the bus and were taken to a safe location by another bus service.
None of the children required medical attention by paramedics.
The cause of the blaze is not yet known.
Queensland Police remain on scene and drivers are being warned of delays.
