Bus crash in Tajikistan kills 21

DUSHANBE, October 3 (RIA Novosti) - Two passenger buses collided Sunday in Tajikistan's Hatlon region killing at least 21 people, a local police spokesman said Monday.

"The collision caused a KAVZ bus to flip over on the road and burst into flames, killing 21 passengers," the spokesman said, adding that four passengers had survived when they were thrown through the windows.

Witnesses said a large "Ikarus" passenger bus drifted into oncoming traffic because of a tire puncture and collided with the mid-sized KAVZ.

"The collision was inevitable; both drivers could not avoid it," the spokesman said, adding that the Ikarus driver had been taken to the hospital along with the four survivors.

An investigation into the accident is under way.