Bus engulfed in flames leaves driver with severe burns as authorities investigate cause of fire - Dominican Republic

Feb 20, 2026
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Bus Fire in Verón-Punta Cana Leaves Driver Severely Injured

A bus caught fire on the morning of Thursday, February 19, in the Verón-Punta Cana area of La Altagracia Province in the Dominican Republic. Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at approximately 7:44 a.m., and firefighters from the Verón-Punta Cana Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the flames.

The vehicle, a white Toyota bus, was almost completely destroyed by the fire, with an estimated 90 percent of its structure consumed by flames.

The driver, identified as 36-year-old Ramón Antonio Castillo De Los Santos, suffered third-degree burns over much of his body. He was treated at the scene by emergency medical personnel before being transported to the Hospital General de Verón Punta Cana, where he remains under specialized medical care.

Authorities have not yet determined the exact cause of the fire, and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain under investigation. Fire and rescue teams worked to prevent the blaze from spreading to nearby vehicles or structures.