June 7, 2013

Xiamen, Fujian, China

Chen Shuizong (陈水总) sets fire to a bus, killing 47 including himself, hospitalizing 34, and seriously injuring 15

Chen, according to a suicide note left in his home, was angry at his life, specifically regarding the government’s refusal to correct an error and give him social security insurance benefits. He wrote “I have been to the police station 56 times but they still haven’t solved my problem.”

It’s suspected he used gasoline (the bus ran on diesel and gasoline was found at the scene) to light the deadly fire during rush hour. The bus was extinguished approximately 20 minutes after it exploded on the elevated roadway.