Petrol and fireworks spark China bus fire, 5 dead

BEIJING, Sep 22 (Reuters) A bag containing petrol and firecrackers burst into flames aboard a bus in northeastern China, starting a blaze which killed five people and injured 20, state media said today.

The owner of the bag was suspected of ''being responsible'' for the fire on Thursday morning in Mudanjiang, in Heilongjiang province, Xinhua news agency said.

''A passenger who managed to escape from the fire told police that he saw the woman carrying a large bag, which police later discovered was packed with gasoline and firecrackers,'' Xinhua said.

''Investigations show that the gasoline and firecrackers in the bag burst into flames. Police are still trying to establish the identity of the woman and her reasons for carrying gasoline and firecrackers on to the bus.'' China has the highest annual road death toll in the world.

Accidents last year killed almost 100,000 people, or 270 a day.

It was not clear if yesterday's fire was an accident or deliberate.

REUTERS SY SSC1408