Update 2 | 68 bendy buses temporarily taken off the roads
Third Arriva bendy bus fire prompts government action.
The Ministry for Transport and Transport Malta have ordered the temporary removal of bendy buses after three bendy buses caught fire in the past days.
During an urgent meeting between the ministry and the operator, Arriva agreed with the decision.
Arriva also agreed to cover the costs after the ministry, Transport Malta and Arriva agreed the Unscheduled Bus Services (UBS) should cover the routes serviced by the bendy buses.
The ministry confirmed that some 68 bendy buses will be taken off the roads tonight.
While these are temporarily suspended, an independent investigation will inspect the vehicles.
The General Workers Union (GWU) expressed satisfaction at this decision, after earlier today it appealed to the Ministry to take bendy buses off the road.
This morning another Arriva bendy bus caught fire but the blaze was quickly contained.
The incident happened at around 12:35pm near the Xemxija roundabout.
According to initial reports, smoke was noticed coming out of the engine area and the driver proceeded to evacuate the passengers. It appears the bus was full of passengers.
The Police confirmed no one was injured in the incident.
This was the third bendy bus to catch fire since Saturday night, and the ninth bus since the beginning of the year.