Bus and tanker crash kills 20

AT LEAST 20 people were killed in a crash between a bus and a petrol tanker in southern Russia.

The accident happened on a highway near Samarskoye, south of Rostov-on-Don.

Nine injured people are in serious condition at nearby hospitals.

The bus was travelling from Krasnodar to Volgodonsk when it hit the tanker head-on.

The weather and visibility were reportedly good at the time.

Rescue workers said that, judging by the position of the vehicles on the road following the crash, they believed the tanker had crossed into the oncoming lane.

An investigation has begun.

The collision did not cause a fire to break out, they said. It was not immediately clear if the tanker had been carrying a full load of petrol.