MOSCOW, January 11 (Sputnik) – At least 57 people, including women and children, died in a fire after an overcrowded bus and an oil tanker collided in southern Pakistan, AFP reports, citing local officials.
Semi Jamali added that DNA tests will be needed to identify the victims.
The bus, carrying over 60 people, including women and children, was en route from Karachi to Shikarpur when an oil-carrying truck rammed into it. Both vehicles immediately caught fire. Passengers atop the bus reportedly managed to jump off. However, dozens were trapped inside and were burned alive.
The incident took place approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) outside of Karachi, according to BBC. The driver of the oil tanker reportedly fled the scene after the crash, the media outlet said.
The police are currently unable to name the exact cause of the incident. "We are trying to ascertain if the driver of the oil tanker was solely at fault or whether the bus driver also showed negligence," Aamir Shiekh, a senior police official, told AFP.
The poor condition of the road likely contributed to the crash.
Such incidents are not uncommon in Pakistan. In November, 57 people died in a road accident 450 kilometers (300 miles) north of Karachi after a bus and a truck collided. In total, nearly 9,000 deadly road accidents take place in Pakistan annually, according to the BBC.
