In brief
In Wellington, New Zealand, a school bus broke down after a head gasket blew, releasing fumes that made 19 of the 44 students feel unwell. Nine of those children were transported to Wellington Hospital for treatment after emergency crews assessed them at Te Papa Museum.
In Wellington on Wednesday, November 4, a school bus en route to a kapa haka event at Te Papa Museum suffered a blown head gasket, sending fumes into the cabin that made children feel sick. The bus, carrying 44 students from a primary school, was traveling on a motorway when the incident occurred at about 10:30 a.m. local time.
By the time the bus reached the museum, several students had begun to experience respiratory and stomach pains. Local emergency services arrived and checked the passengers at the scene. According to Xinhua, 19 of the students reported symptoms, and nine were taken to hospital for treatment.
Other reports from New Zealand’s Radio New Zealand confirm that the fumes caused breathing problems and abdominal discomfort. A separate 1News article quoted that nine children were transported to hospital and that 13 were kept under observation by the Wellington Free Ambulance, while another fragment of the same 1News source suggested three children received immediate emergency care.
Radio New Zealand added that the event occurred 22 minutes after the head gasket blew, and that no serious injuries were reported. The article noted that the nine children were sent to Wellington Hospital for further care.
School officials said the bus had been scheduled to travel from Grey District Primary School to the museum for a local kapa haka performance. Staff on board stated that the head gasket failure seemed sudden and the bus did not stop until it reached the museum’s parking area.
Wellington Ambulance spokesperson Lucy Grey said the crew “didn’t find any critical injuries, but many students were uncomfortable.” She added that they “managed the situation by first assessing symptoms and then deciding which children required hospital care.”
When asked if there were any dangerous chemicals on board, the bus operator confirmed that the only potential hazard was the engine’s maintenance issue. “There were no fumes at any time before it blew out,” they said.
The children who were taken to hospital were attended by the Wellington Children's Unit, where they received treatment for respiratory distress and abdominal pain. None of the nine patients required intensive care or surgery.
Officials from Te Papa Museum acknowledged that the event had caused a brief disruption to the scheduled kapa haka performance, but also stressed that the museum staff had been prepared to handle an emergency. “We were ready to provide care and support,” an official said, though they declined to name themselves.
The incident highlights how a seemingly small mechanical failure can have widespread health repercussions. Police are conducting an investigation into the bus’s maintenance logs, and the New Zealand Transport Safety Board will look into whether safety procedures were followed.
At present, the nine children are reported to be recovering in hospital and should soon be discharged. The school is working with the bus company to investigate the incident and the emergency response teams are reviewing protocols for similar events in the future.