18 die as South African minibus crashes

A South African minibus crashed into a trailer blocking a road and burst into flames, burning 18 people to death, including two children.

All the occupants of the minibus taxi travelling from the Indian Ocean city of Durban to the town of Newcastle were killed, police said.

The accident occurred after the truck jack-knifed and its trailer unhinged and rolled on its side, blocking the road. The taxi then crashed into it.

The truck driver was not injured and was being questioned by police, said Thabang Chiloane, spokesman for the KwaZulu-Natal provincial transport department.