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Lithuanians' return from Prague soured: passengers recount unbearable heat on bus
🇱🇹 Lithuania /Disasters & Emergencies

Lithuanians' return from Prague soured: passengers recount unbearable heat on bus

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Lithuanian travelers returning from Prague experienced extreme heat and discomfort in their tour bus due to a malfunctioning air conditioning system.
  • Passengers reported temperatures reaching 34-35 degrees Celsius, causing health concerns, especially for those with pre-existing conditions.
  • The tour operator, Makalius, confirmed the breakdown, apologized for the inconvenience, and arranged for a replacement bus.

Lithuanian travelers returning from Prague endured a harrowing journey marked by unbearable heat inside their tour bus, attributed to a faulty air conditioning system. Passengers described the experience as "hell," with internal temperatures soaring to approximately 34-35 degrees Celsius, far exceeding the usual comfortable 23 degrees.

Yesterday was real hell. Today it's a bit cooler, but it's not clear yet.

— Bus driverDescribing the extreme heat conditions on the bus.

The bus drivers reportedly attempted to address the issue, explaining that the system might improve as the vehicle gained mileage. However, a system failure was indicated on the computer. Passengers claimed that drivers were instructed by management to restart the air conditioning system and continue the journey, despite uncertainty about its reliability for the entire trip.

The drivers were told by management to restart the air conditioning system and continue the journey.

— PassengersRecounting instructions given to the bus drivers.

Beyond the discomfort, passengers expressed significant concern for their health. Some travelers had recently undergone surgery or suffered from heart conditions, and the extreme heat raised fears of potential medical emergencies. Passengers who voiced their dissatisfaction were allegedly told they could choose not to travel, a claim the tour operator later denied.

The biggest concern for us is not just the discomfort, but the possible consequences for health. There are people on the bus who have had operations, there are passengers with heart disease. The question is, what will happen if someone feels unwell in such heat?

— A passengerExpressing health concerns due to the extreme heat.

Travel organizer Makalius confirmed the air conditioning failure, apologizing for the situation. They stated the breakdown occurred on the final leg of the trip in Prague and that attempts to fix it on-site were unsuccessful. A replacement bus was promptly dispatched and passengers were transferred to continue their journey back to Lithuania.

Yesterday, the air conditioning system in the bus designated for our trip broke down. We sincerely regret this situation and apologize to all travelers for the inconvenience caused.

— MakaliusConfirming the breakdown and apologizing to passengers.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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