Around 0h45, a 24-seat sleeper bus with a Hanoi license plate, traveling from Lao Cai Ward to Sa Pa, unexpectedly caught fire upon reaching Tong Sanh hamlet, Coc San commune.

The driver quickly pulled the bus over to the roadside and woke the passengers. All 20 passengers safely evacuated before the fire spread.

The passenger bus completely destroyed by fire in Lao Cai. Photo: *Bao Lao Cai*.

Road Traffic Police Team No. 1 coordinated with Coc San Commune Police to direct traffic, facilitating fire and rescue services in handling the scene.

After about 30 minutes, firefighters extinguished the blaze. The bus and much of the passengers' luggage were completely destroyed. The cause is currently under investigation.

Previously, on 5/10, a passenger bus caught fire on provincial road 155, also in Coc San commune, with no casualties reported.

National highway 4D is a vital route connecting Lao Cai with Sa Pa, characterized by mountainous terrain, numerous steep passes, and sharp curves. The area passing through Coc San commune has previously experienced serious traffic accidents and landslides causing congestion.

Gia Chinh