Otjiwarongo: A total of 16 occupants of a minibus, including its driver, escaped unhurt on Friday night after their vehicle allegedly caught fire while it was in motion approximately 20 kilometres north of Otjiwarongo on the B1 road. The incident involved a minibus traveling from Oshakati to Windhoek, which caught fire unexpectedly, prompting a quick evacuation by all passengers and the driver.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Deputy Commissioner Edna Nawa, the Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator in the Otjozondjupa Region, reported in an interview that the fire was suspected to have originated from the front right wheel bearing. The fire quickly spread throughout the vehicle, ultimately consuming it entirely. Despite the alarming situation, all 16 occupants, including the 27-year-old driver, managed to exit the burning vehicle without injury.

Nawa further explained that the passengers received assistance to continue their journey to their intended destinations from Otjiwarongo. The charred remains of the minibus were removed from the roadside later that night to ensure the safety of other motorists traveling on the B1 road.