China bus crash leaves at least 38 dead

At least 38 people were killed in a collision between a bus and a van carrying flammable liquids in southern China, state media reported today, the latest in a string of crashes that have fuelled anger over unsafe transport.

The crash in Hunan province happened in the early hours of today when the van drove into the back of the passenger coach, triggering a fire and explosion, the official Xinhua news agency said.

Five people were injured, including four with severe burns, and five vehicles were destroyed.

Last week, 11 people were killed, including eight children, when a school bus crashed into a reservoir in Hunan.

A series of crashes in recent years involving vehicles carrying school children have made such incidents a sensitive issue, particularly in China’s rural areas where roads are often poorly maintained.

Reuters