MOSCOW: At least 11 people, including nine children, were killed in a multi-vehicle pile-up in central Siberia, local authorities said Sunday.
The accident happened on the road from the city of Khanty-Mansiysk to Tyumen, and involved a truck, two cars and a bus carrying 32 people including 29 children.
"Eleven people died immediately including nine children and 21 were taken to hospital" in Khanty-Mansiysk, said investigators after the crash, which occurred around 4 pm (1100 GMT).
They "believe that the driver of the bus lost control of his vehicle and caused the accident", said a statement, adding that it could also have been caused by poor visibility and "difficult" weather conditions.
In 2015 more than 23,000 people died in road accidents in Russia, according to official figures.
Russia has one of the highest mortality rates in the world for road accidents, notably due to alcohol abuse, poor roads and drivers not following the rules of the road.
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