A bus crashed into a tree in Paris on 25/6 after its driver reportedly fainted, with extreme heat suspected as the cause. The incident occurred around 9 am in the Saint-Cloud gateway area, 16th district, a region under a red alert for intense heat since early this week. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.

The driver of bus route 189, operated by ATM transport company, reportedly suffered heatstroke just after dropping off all passengers at the final stop and while making a U-turn. A witness's video shows the front of the bus completely deformed after hitting a blackwood tree. Since the bus had dropped off all passengers and there were no pedestrians on the sidewalk when it veered, no one else was harmed. An ATM representative confirmed the driver's health is now stable, according to Actu.

Video: Ahmed Berrahal

Earlier, upon reaching the stop, the driver had informed dispatch staff that he was not feeling well. However, ATM stated the driver had not confirmed the hot weather as the direct cause of the incident. "An internal investigation is underway to clarify the cause of the incident," a company representative added. When questioned about the air conditioning system on the crashed Mercedes Citaro—a vehicle previously part of RATP's fleet before being transferred to the Italian operator—ATM stated: "All buses ordered after 2016 have air conditioning."

However, Ahmed Berrahal, a representative of the FO union who shared the video on social media, disagreed. He believes the link to the heat is undeniable. "This incident is a continuation of what we have condemned over the past three or four days: the intense heat at workstations and the lack of bus air conditioning," he stated.

The union representative reported that temperatures can reach 46 degrees C in some buses. "For a driver working eight hours a day, can you imagine? With passengers, temperatures could reach nearly 50 degrees," he added. The temperatures cited by the union representative align with data recorded from 24/6 at Porte d'Ivry bus station, where temperatures reached 48 degrees C at the front and 56 degrees C at the back of buses.

"Air conditioning is not a luxury; it is essential for everyone's safety," the union stated. "It helps drivers avoid fainting and helps passengers prevent heatstroke or fatalities among infants and the elderly."

Currently, only about 60% of buses in the Île-de-France region are equipped with new air conditioning. Photo: Parisien

Meanwhile, ATM added that a severe heat response protocol was activated across the entire system at the start of summer. Measures include: increasing driver rest periods, arranging additional water supply points, and boosting management staff at final stops.

For several days, transport unions and passengers have consistently reported scorching heat on public transport in France. Responding to Parisien newspaper, the Île-de-France Mobility Authority (IDFM) reiterated that it had spent 5,7 billion euro to renew the fleet, aiming for 100% air-conditioned buses by 2030. Currently, about 60% of vehicles are equipped with new air conditioning.

Unions argue this progress is too slow, noting that some existing air conditioning systems are either broken or ineffective, particularly on electric buses with limited operating range, which reduces their cooling capacity.

My Anh