Nine children sent to Wellington Hospital after head gasket blew on school bus

Nine students were taken to Wellington Hospital after a bus travelling to Te Papa blew a head gasket.

The school bus carrying 44 Wainuiomata Primary School pupils was on its way to a kapa haka event at the museum when the incident happened on the motorway about 10.30am.

Fire and Emergency said fire crews were called to reports of a bus fire but on arrival encountered an unknown substance.

Police, a Hazardous Materials Unit, four fire engines, two ambulances and support vehicles responded.

Some students were unwell.

Assistant district commander Matt Franklin said fumes from the blown gasket had caused respiratory and stomach pains.

“There’s been fumes inside the cabin of the bus and [the students] were transferred to another bus. Some of them have presented with respiratory problems on arrival at Te Papa ... steam-based oil has been aspirated ... respiratory and abdominal complaints.”

Emergency services triaged children with 19 reporting symptoms and nine taken to hospital.

Franklin said after the ambulance staff checks, the remaining students rejoined their classmates at the museum’s kapa haka event.

Police were looking to tow the bus from the motorway.

Wainuiomata Primary School principal Allison Burdon told parents they could be proud of their children.

She said the children reacted well and had gone on to perform at the kapa haka event.

  This story was first published on rnz.co.nz