BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) -- A double-decker bus headed to China crashed and caught fire in southeastern Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, killing 19 people, officials said. ontrol and the bus went over a cliff and caught fire.
Russia's Interfax news agency, citing the Kyrgyz Interior Ministry, had put the death toll at 40, and said 10 more people on the bus were injured. ontrol and the bus went over a cliff and caught fire.
But Baktybek Nuraliyev, a duty officer at the Emergencies Ministry in the capital Bishkek, said the bus was carrying 19 people and all were confirmed dead. Their nationalities were not known, he said. ontrol and the bus went over a cliff and caught fire.
It could not immediately be confirmed whether the crash or the fire occurred first. ontrol and the bus went over a cliff and caught fire.
The Chinese-owned bus left Bishkek early Thursday. It was about 150 miles southeast of Bishkek when a blaze broke out, said Nurlan Tilemishev, a local police officer. The bus turned over and was found lying on its side, he said. ontrol and the bus went over a cliff and caught fire.
Russia's ITAR-Tass news agency said the driver lost control and the bus went over a cliff and caught fire.