Update 2 - Adds damage to Maltapost.

A fierce fire destroyed an Arriva bendy bus near the Maltapost offices in Marsa last night.

The blaze was reported at about 12.45 a.m. No one is believed to have been injured. The bus was empty other than for its driver.

Members of the fire section of the Civil Protection Department were on the scene. The cause of the fire is not known.

The bus was completely gutted.

DAMAGE TO NINE MALTAPOST VANS

Serious damage was also caused to Maltapost vans parked close to the bus. Although the flames did not spread to the vans, nine vans were damaged by the heat, which was so intense that four vans had their windscreens shattered. The company is carrying out an assessment of the damage but preliminary estimates put the damage at over €30,000.

This was the most serious case of fire on the buses since the Arriva service was introduced in July last year, although there were several reports of engine compartments catching fire.

Last night's incident comes in a terrible week for Arriva with three people having been injured when a bus crashed into a parked pick-up van in Zabbar. The bus was heavily damaged.

Picture - Frost Wen - mynews@timesofmalta.com