Via WFAA in Dallas, a bus carrying elderly Rita evacuees exploded early this morning and has killed an estimated 20 passengers. Just awful:

An intercity passenger bus carrying evacuees from Hurricane Rita was destroyed by fire on Interstate 45 in Wilmer early Friday, killing an estimated 20 passengers and injuring a number of others. A Dallas County Sheriff’s Department spokesman said the bus had been carrying about 45 senior citizens from Bellaire, Texas, a Houston suburb. One motorist told News 8 he saw what appeared to be an explosion before flames engulfed the bus.

According to AP, the fire may have been tied to evacuees’ oxygen tanks:

“The early indications are this is a mechanical issue. The driver did survive the accident,” Peritz said. “It’s my understanding he went back on the bus several times to try to evacuate people.”

He said there were indications that oxygen used by elderly evacuees could have had a role in the fire.

Something for disaster preparedness officials to think about in planning mass evacuations involving patients with medical equipment. Is there a safer way to move them?

Keep the victims in your prayers.

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More details from the NYTimes on the efforts of the bus driver and other commuters to save the passengers.

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