Bus: everything we know so far

Students from a secondary school in Co Clare had their school tour delayed when the bus they were travelling in caught fire on the M7 in Co Laois. Bus has emerged this Friday as one of the stories drawing attention in Ireland.

Key facts

• Students from a secondary school in Co Clare had their school tour delayed when the bus they were travelling in caught fire on the M7 in Co Laois.
• Passengers on a bus travelling near the Tipperary Laois border were evacuated uninjured from a blaze which engulfed the vehicle on Thursday morning.
• Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a bus on fire near the M7, between junction 21, Borris-in-Ossory and junction 22, Roscrea, on Thursday, April 30, at around 8.15am.
• The bus is between junctions 21 and 22 of the M7 near Roscrea.
• The driver has been credited with bringing the students to safety after the fire took hold at the back of the bus.

What we know

Going deeper, Passengers on a bus travelling near the Tipperary Laois border were evacuated uninjured from a blaze which engulfed the vehicle on Thursday morning.

On the substance, Gardaí and emergency services were alerted to a bus on fire near the M7, between junction 21, Borris-in-Ossory and junction 22, Roscrea, on Thursday, April 30, at around 8.15am.

Beyond the headlines, the bus is between junctions 21 and 22 of the M7 near Roscrea.

More precisely, the driver has been credited with bringing the students to safety after the fire took hold at the back of the bus.

It is worth noting that Principal Rita Hehir said the school was "delighted to report that all students, the bus driver and staff are safe and nobody was injured.

By the numbers

“The fire was safely extinguished,” said gardaí. “No injuries have been reported at this time.” The M7 between junctions 21 and 22 has reopened to traffic.

On a related note, the teenagers, from St Joseph's Community College in Kilkee, were on their way to Emerald Park in Co Meath when the blaze occurred shortly after 8am.

Going deeper, Emergency services attended the scene on the Dublin-bound carriageway of the M7 between the Roscrea and Borris-in-Ossory junctions.

On the substance, both sides of the M7 were closed to traffic as firefighters brought the blaze under control.

The wider context

On a related note, the bus was entirely destroyed and the cause of the fire has not been ascertained at this stage.

Going deeper, a bus fire is causing major delays for motorists in the Midlands this morning.

On the substance, Tipperary Fire Service received the call-out at 8.20am.

Beyond the headlines, Anyone travelling towards the town is being asked to get off the motorway at junction 21 which will be closed to Southbound traffic.

More precisely, it is understood that another coach collected the students and brought them to the theme park.

The bottom line

• The bus is between junctions 21 and 22 of the M7 near Roscrea.
• The driver has been credited with bringing the students to safety after the fire took hold at the back of the bus.
• The teenagers, from St Joseph's Community College in Kilkee, were on their way to Emerald Park in Co Meath when the blaze occurred shortly after 8am.
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