Schoolchildren were counting their blessings yesterday after escaping injury when their bus exploded.

The bus operator was praised for his quick action in helping about 13 students, aged between 5 and 16, to safety moments before their vehicle went up in giant flames and thick black smoke.

The incident happened shortly after 7.30am near Khyber Pass, Warwick, as the bus travelled from the West End to Warwick Academy and Somersfield Academy.

According to Somersfield head of school Carlos Symonds, students said they smelt fuel on the bus, and opened the windows to let in fresh air.

A loud bang was then heard, with flames and smoke coming out of the back of the bus.

The young passengers were evacuated and taken to Warwick Post Office, where they awaited collection from their parents and from another bus to take them to school.

The blaze spread throughout the underside of the back half of the bus and in the engine compartment, causing severe damage to the vehicle. Its cause is under investigation, although there was reportedly a problem with the engine.

Some of the students were said to be shaken by the incident and their schools said they would be assessed by counsellors.

Warwick Academy student Daysha Loppie, 16, who was on the bus, near to a wheel that she believes caught fire, told The Royal Gazette: “Some girls were complaining about the smell, then a whole bunch of smoke came out.

“The wheel was on fire, and we got off and went into the post office. Then the whole back of the bus caught fire.

“Everyone was really shocked and upset. Some girls were crying because they were sitting right there when it happened.”

Daysha’s father, Lamone Woods, said: “It was a bit of a fright for Daysha, but she was good in the end.

“I hope they really get to the bottom of what happened though, because next time it could be someone else’s daughter and they might not be so lucky.

“The bus literally blew up and my daughter was sitting right by where the wheel exploded. This bus could have exploded and killed her.

“I’m very concerned about whether Bermuda public transport vehicles are being serviced regularly and correctly. I want to make sure we get a full explanation about this.”

Warwick Academy student Saladin Beatti-Thompson, 13, said he had been daydreaming when he “heard a loud bang under me” and thought the bus had struck a wall.

“I was confused at first,” he said, adding that he then saw the smoke. He said the fire got “really big with dark, thick clouds coming from it”.

A witness account received by Mr Symonds and shared with The Royal Gazette stated: “There were flames coming out of the back and then the bus pulled over. Within a few minutes, a man ran on to the bus to get the kids off.

“Shortly after, it was up in flames. The kids were brought into the Warwick Post Office. The kids were later wandering around looking for a bus to get on and an older boy from Warwick Academy was helping, along with the other students, look after the younger children. They all saw it on fire and heard the explosion.”

Kevin Lambert was on his scooter on his way to Hamilton, a couple of vehicles behind the bus.

He said he was about to overtake the car in front of him when he heard a bang, like “somebody let off a bomb”. “The next minute the bus went up in black smoke, with sparks underneath of it,” he said.

The entire event, he said, “happened in an instant”.

Senator Michael Fahy, the transport minister, is off the island, but issued a “profound apology” to parents of both schools.

Mr Fahy said an engineer was arriving on the island last night to inspect the fleet, and that one other bus has already been withdrawn from service as a result of the fire. The bus which exploded was 15 years old, Mr Fahy said.

Acting transport minister Grant Gibbons thanked the bus operator, who was not named.

“I am happy that no one was hurt,” Dr Gibbons stated.

“We are told that the bus operator should be commended for quick action to evacuate the children to safety, as should members of the public who rendered assistance. I can assure the public that we will get to the bottom of the cause of this unfortunate incident.”

The Department of Public Transportation stated: “We would like to add our assurances to that of the minister that we will determine the cause of this incident as a high priority, in an effort to avoid its reoccurrence.”

Delton White, staff officer at Bermuda Fire and Rescue Service, said two vehicles staffed with nine personnel tackled the blaze.

They extinguished the fire with water and foam, and had to cut into the vehicle with Holmatro extrication equipment.