A bus traveling from Xian to Pucheng in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province exploded on Sunday killing five of its passengers and injuring 25 others.
The explosions reportedly occurred around 6:40 p.m. local time as the bus was approaching its destination. Those injured inside the bus included 11 females and 14 males. They were rushed to either the Pucheng County or the Pucheng County Boai Hospitals for treatment. The bus can seat up to 47 people and the explosion did not kill or injure anyone else outside the bus.
According to a police statement, the blast happened in Pucheng County on Yingbin Road near the the Chaoyang intersection. Soon after the explosion, police moved in to secure the site and begin an investigation on the circumstances surrounding the explosion. Explosives experts and forensic specialists were also dispatched to the scene to assist with the investigation and to dispose of any other explosives if necessary.
The bus is believed to have been registered to the Shaanxi Honghua Passenger Company. The company said that the bus driver was over 40 years old and had over 10 years of driving experience. They also claimed that the bus had not been crowded and that prior to boarding, all passengers and their luggage had to pass through a security inspection and baggage screening.
The explosion, according to witnesses at the scene, happened about 200 meters from the bus station. One witness said it happened "less than a three minute walk " from the station entrance. A passenger who was sitting at the front of the bus said the explosion happened about five rows behind him and it blew out the windows and damaged the bus lights.
Another story says that the explosions occurred in the fourth row or far enough from the front of the bus that neither the driver nor the bus attendant was injured.
As yet, police and investigators are not sure what caused the explosion.