Guayaquil Metrovía bus evacuated due to smoke

A Metrovía bus in Guayaquil, Ecuador, experienced a technical failure on Wednesday, July 1, forcing the evacuation of all passengers. The articulated unit, T10039, stopped at the Mercado Caraguay station in the city's south-central area when smoke began to emanate from the vehicle.

Metrovía's system activated emergency protocols, ensuring passengers were safely disembarked. They continued their journeys on other buses. The Metropolitan Transit and Mobility Authority (ATM) confirmed the unit was removed for technical inspection. Firefighters were also present to assess the smoke.

The incident happened just two weeks after a significant accident on June 18, where a Metrovía bus collided with another vehicle in downtown Guayaquil, injuring approximately 100 people. That crash raised questions about the transport system's operations. Following the June accident, the MetroQuil Consortium pledged to cover damages to public and private property and maintain communication with those affected.