Bus passengers were covered in white powder this morning when a fire extinguisher ‘exploded’ under a seat.
Malta Public Transport said this evening the extinguishers on the said bus were all fitted with the required safety ring and seal during this morning’s inspection but initial investigations into the incident showed that these were missing. This meant that the extinguisher was in a position to freely discharge the powder, it said.
The incident happened on a Route 14 bus near Msida at about 8am. The bus was travelling to Valletta from St Julian's.
Passengers complained that the driver initially did not want to stop and open the doors.
“My wife, who was sitting on the seat where the extinguisher exploded started screaming. She is asthmatic and extinguisher powder can be dangerous,” the passenger’s husband told the Times of Malta.
He said other passengers also started shouting for the driver to stop and open the doors. He eventually relented and they were allowed out, before being taken on board the dusty vehicle once more. Some refused to board.
“At first some people thought it was a terrorist attack,” the man said.
He called on Transport Malta and the bus company to periodically check the extinguishers.
No one was injured in the incident.
BUS COMPANY'S REACTION
In its initial reaction, Spanish-owned Malta Public Transport apologised for the incident and for any alarm and inconvenience caused.
"The company would like to reassure its passengers that it carries out regular checks on its buses and on all the equipment installed on the buses including the fire extinguishers. The company will be examining CCTV recordings from the onboard cameras and will be investigating the case to identify the cause of this incident," it said in a statement.
It said it has been in contact with the passenger who was seated next to the extinguisher and who was mostly affected, to follow up on her condition.
It said most of the other passengers who were on board the bus continued with their journey on board another bus which followed immediately.
In another statement this evening, the company said that initial investigations showed that the safety ring and the lockwire seal on the fire extinguisher were missing. This meant that the extinguisher was in a position to freely discharge the powder.
"The company confirms that it inspects all its buses every morning before these are put into service. The fire extinguishers installed on the bus involved in this incident were fitted with the required safety ring and seal during this morning’s inspection.
"Finally, the company confirms that the fire extinguisher did not explode as was reported in the media."
The company apologised to the passengers who were on the bus involved in this incident for the inconvenience caused.
Any passengers who were on board the bus at the time of the incident may get in touch with the company by calling 2122 2000.