In brief
Nine students were treated after a school bus in Wellington suffered a blown head gasket, releasing fumes that triggered symptoms in 44 riders. Local emergency services assessed 19 children and sent nine to hospital. A 1News report also alleged three transported and 13 under observation, but the claim remains unverified.
Nine students were taken to hospital after a school bus in Wellington suffered a blown head gasket that released fumes, causing respiratory and stomach pain among riders.
According to Xinhua, the 44‑student bus was traveling on a motorway around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday when the head gasket blew. The bus was en route to a kapa haka event at Te Papa Museum. Once the bus arrived, some students began feeling unwell. Emergency services assessed 19 students at the scene and transported nine to hospital for treatment.
1News reported that three children were transported to hospital with respiratory issues and that 13 remained under observation by Wellington Free Ambulance, though the article was not available at the time of this reporting and the claim remains unverified.
A Radio New Zealand Facebook post showed school children gathered near a cordon outside Te Papa as crews responded to the incident shortly after 10 am.