paphos school — paphos school — A school bus operated by the Paphos Public Transport Organisation (OSYPA) caught fire at around 07:00 on Tuesday on Archbishop Makarios Avenue in Chlorakas, with tragedy averted as students had not yet boarded the vehicle.
- Transport officials are pursuing a thorough investigation into the incident. The focus is on determining the exact cause, which could involve mechanical failure, electrical issues, or other factors.
The driver promptly evacuated the bus after noticing smoke, attempting to extinguish the fire himself before emergency services arrived. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, as the incident took place just before the scheduled student pickup time.
Paphos school: Driver’s Quick Action Prevents Tragedy
Andreas Nikiforou, Head of Public Passenger Transport and Senior Road Transport Officer, confirmed that the bus was among the newer vehicles in OSYPA’s fleet. “The specific bus had passed technical inspection on 27/08/2025, approximately 20 days ago,” he stated.
Investigation Underway
An electromechanical service team from Nicosia is set to conduct a full inspection of the vehicle. The provincial electromechanical service department has already performed an initial examination to identify the fire’s origin.
Transport officials are pursuing a thorough investigation into the incident. The focus is on determining the exact cause, which could involve mechanical failure, electrical issues, or other factors.
Commitment to Safety and Modernisation
This incident is not the first involving a student transport bus. Nikiforou highlighted that inspections have intensified over the past two years, with companies now required to provide MOT certificates, technical inspections from private garages, and documentation showing inspections within three months.
<p“Everything was in order with the bus. There is certification for the fire suppression system; everything was perfect. It was a terribly unfortunate incident,” Nikiforou added.
Representatives from the Transport Ministry confirmed that the 2010-manufactured bus met contractual requirements, as vehicles under 20 years old are permitted in the fleet, with an average age not exceeding 10 years.
Future Plans for the Fleet
Chrysanthos Savvides, deputy chairman of the Parliamentary Education Committee, noted that 50 new buses are expected for delivery in February to modernise the ageing fleet. “We must give all our attention to existing buses to avoid any unpleasant developments,” he emphasised.
