At least 33 people were killed when a bus carrying young athletes burst into flames after crashing into a gas tanker in Morocco, officials have said.
The bus was travelling towards the coastal city of Benslimane to Laayoune in Western Sahara when the head-on collision took place earlier today.
Two of the wounded were said to be in a serious condition after the crash, which happened near the southern city of Tan-Tan.
Most of the victims were teenagers returning from a school athletic competition in Benslimane, the Tan-Tan bureau of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) said in a statement.
Morrocan sportsman Hassan Issengar was among those killed in the crash, according to reports.
The majority of the victims were killed in the fire which engulfed the bus after it collided with the tanker carrying hydrocarbons.
Benmane Fadli, regional director of the transportation ministry, said: “We have many completely carbonised bodies. Authorities have been in contact with the bus company to identify the victims.”
Road accidents have been increasing in the country as more Moroccans have been able to buy cars.
Official statistics show car ownership has nearly doubled in 15 years and an average 10 people die every day in traffic accidents.
