All photos by Elysia Windrum

Updated on Sept. 11 with remarks from Mowasalat

A fire that ripped through a Mowasalat depot in the Industrial Area last night has wrecked some 27 Karwa buses.

The blaze apparently broke out around 8:30pm and was brought under control by 11pm, according to the Ministry of Interior. In a tweet in Arabic, the MOI said there were no injuries:

الدفاع المدني يسيطر على حريق في مواقف باصات كروة بمنطقة ابوهامور دون مصابين #الداخلية_قطر

— وزارة الداخلية – قطر (@MOI_Qatar) September 9, 2014

This morning, the burned-out buses remained sitting out of the bus depot, where several others buses were untouched by the fire.

Investigators from state transport company Mowasalat’s higher security department were observed examining the scene.

The cause of the fire – which destroyed several buses used by schools – remains unknown.

However, the investigators told Doha News that they were considering the possibility that the fire was started deliberately.

State transportation company Mowasalat runs Karwa-branded public service buses and a growing school bus service, in addition to providing private hire coaches for companies and for events.

In a statement, Mowasalat said the loss of the buses would not affect public transportation, as the vehicles were out of service and about to be scrapped.

Last week, the Supreme Education Council announced it had deployed 1,700 school buses across the country, including 700 new vehicles, in a bid to reduce congestion on the roads at peak times.

It is not clear what impact the fire will have on Mowasalat’s operations. The company has yet to issue a statement.

Thoughts?