) At least 31 people were killed and nine injured in a road accident in Morocco on Friday morning, media reported.
The accident occurred at 7 am when a bus collided head-on with a semi-trailer in the commune of Chbika in the southern Moroccan province of Tan-Tan, Moroccan news agency MAP reported citing provincial authorities.
The nine injured are in serious condition, and have been admitted to Hassan II Hospital in Tan-Tan.
Most of the victims were young athletes between 12 and 14 years of age, who perished tragically with the bus left completely charred, Tan-Tan officials told Spanish news agency Efe.
The bus left Rabat for the city of Laayoune in the Western Sahara where the children were competing in a national sporting event, according to the alyaoum24 Arabic website.
Medicos told Efe that the death toll may be as high as 40, although no official statement has corroborated the figure.
It is unclear what caused the collision between the bus and the semi-trailer truck, which apparently had flammable cargo.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app