Nine injured after Caribe Tours bus catches fire near Jarabacoa

La Vega, DR.- A Caribe Tours bus caught fire Thursday afternoon while traveling along the Jarabacoa–La Vega highway, leaving nine passengers with minor injuries, according to emergency authorities.

The incident occurred around 5:02 p.m. in the Ercilia Pepín sector, near the area known as Las Costillitas. The bus, identified as unit 942, was traveling from La Vega to Jarabacoa when the fire broke out.

Passengers were able to evacuate the vehicle before it was fully engulfed in flames. Medical teams from the National Emergency and Security System 9-1-1 treated the injured at the scene, and all were later released after receiving care for minor injuries.

Authorities identified eight of the injured as Wilson Ortiz, Francisca Javi Ortiz, Ana María Ortiz, Algelis Rivera, Ana Peralta, Manuel Ortiz, Jensi Alonzo, and Ramón Durán.

Firefighters from the Buena Vista Fire Department responded to the emergency, extinguishing the blaze and preventing it from spreading to nearby areas.