Deadly collision in China
July 19, 2014China's state-run Xinhua News Agency said Saturday that the truck rear-ended the bus around 3 a.m. local time on the Hukun Expressway in central Hunan province.
The collision triggered a fire and explosion which destroyed five vehicles and killed at least 38 people. Five people were also injured.
The double-decker bus was traveling between the eastern coastal province of Fujian and Guizhou in the southwest.
Fatal road accidents are a serious problem in China. In June last year at least 38 people were killed when fire engulfed a bus during evening rush hour in the city of Xiamen, Fujian.
A 2011 study by a group of Chinese and US researchers concluded that the number of deadly accidents was two times higher than the police claimed.
hc/mz (AFP, dpa, AP)