June 7, 2013 – The Xiamen bus fire

On this day in 2013 tragedy struck in Xiamen, Fujian province, China, when a Chinese citizen decided to take his own life in a mass-murder suicide on a local city bus. During the rush hour attack, Chen Shuizong lit the bus on fire, and the flames quickly spread to the gas tank, causing a massive explosion. The event killed 47 people on board the bus and 34 more were injured. Investigations determined the fire broke out in the rear of the bus at 6:22 p.m. local time and was extinguished at 6:50 p.m. Despite the bus running on diesel, traces of gasoline were found on the bus, leading investigators to believe that arson was at play. 

The following day, police identified Shuizong as the suspect in what is one of China’s greatest automotive related mass-murders. They had found a suicide note that he had left in his home. Family members also stated that he had been unhappy with government officials who refused to correct an error in his identification documents that led to him being denied social security benefits.