A bus fire caused by a lithium battery carried by a passenger left 2 dead in China.

Dramatic video filmed in Nanjing City in Jiangsu Province on August 20 shows a bus being engulfed by a huge fire with black smoke rising into the air. Firefighters were rescuing on site to try to put out the fire.

According to reports, a passenger carrying a lithium battery placed it in their backpack and boarded the bus without the driver noticing and the battery ignited during the journey.

Upon detecting the fire, the driver pulled the bus over, opened the doors for the passengers to evacuate.

Due to the intensity of the fire, some passengers were unable to escape in time, resulting in 2 deaths and 5 injuries.

The injured passengers were sent to hospital for medical treatment and they are not in critical condition. Further details about the incident are under investigation.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

8月20日11时42分许，在104国道南京花旗营段，一辆从安徽来安县开往林场站的城际公交车（皖M03799D），在行驶过程中，突然起火。12时许，现场明火被扑灭。经初步调查，起火原因为一乘客携带的锂电池电瓶自燃造成。火灾造成乘客2人死亡，另有5人局部烫伤，已送医诊治，均无生命危险。事故有关情况正在进一步调查中。
安徽省来安县城乡公交有限公司相关负责人回应称，经初步了解，事故发生前，携带锂电池的乘客将锂电池放入背包中上车，公交车司机当时并未发现。行驶中发现起火后，司机将车子靠边，打开车门让旅客疏散，由于火势较大，部分乘客无法及时逃离，最终造成2死5伤。“我们到现场时，处置基本结束，受伤乘客被救护车拉走，分布在几个医院救治。”
“死者中有一名儿童，其他伤亡人员具体情况不清楚。”该名负责人介绍，事发公交车辆司机和携带锂电池乘客均未受伤，目前两人被警方带走调查。
对于事故具体情况，警方正在进一步调查中。目前，相关部门正通过第三方公司，试图恢复事发时的公交车内监控视频。
对此，南京市公安局江北新区分局盘城派出所一名工作人员回应称，事发后，派出所第一时间出警，具体情况其并不了解。南京消防相关工作人员则表示，具体以官方通报为准。