At least 16 people were injured after a passenger bus overturned in the Tambov Region in southeast Russia, the regional emergencies department reported on Sunday.

The incident occurred on Sunday morning when the bus travelling from the Black Sea city of Gelendzhik to Tambov capsized some 50 km (31 miles) away from the destination point. Two people were hospitalized, the emergencies department said.

"The medical staff has provided medical assistance to fourteen people who were sent home. Two girls were hospitalized," the emergencies department said.

According to a preliminary version, a Niva car drove too close to the bus and the bus driver tried to turn away. The car drove off in an unknown direction after the accident, the emergencies department said.

According to statistics, 30,000 people lose their lives in traffic accidents every year in Russia due to the poor state of highway networks and reckless driving.

VORONEZH, July 25 (RIA Novosti)