Afghan official says at least 18 dead in bus crash

An Afghan official says at least 18 people died and another three were injured when a minibus plummeted into a ravine in a remote area of the northwestern Badghis province.

Mirwais Mirzakwal, spokesman for the provincial governor, says the accident was probably caused by excessive speed and careless driving.

He says the accident happened early Sunday in Bala Murghab district. Badghis is one of Afghanistan's poorest and least developed regions.

Poorly-maintained roads and reckless driving are major issues in Afghanistan. Road fatalities top 6,000 annually, according to the World Health Organisation.