7 killed as bus falls into river in Russia

Seven people were killed when a bus with an estimated 20 people on board crashed into a river in the northern Russian city of St Petersburg on Friday (May 10), officials said.

“The number of deaths as a result of a bus falling into the Moyka river has increased to seven people,” Russia’s Investigative Committee, said in an update to an earlier toll.

The emergency situations ministry said earlier that divers were attaching slings to lift the bus out of the water.

The police said that there were about 20 people on the bus, which crashed into the Moyka River in the historic city centre.

A surveillance video released by Russian media showed the bus driving fast, making a sharp turn on to the bridge and colliding with another vehicle before breaking through the barrier and falling into the water.

Authorities in St Petersburg said that the owner of the bus had been fined 23 times for various violations.

The bus driver was detained by police.

Authorities opened a criminal investigation into alleged traffic violations and unsafe travel services.

(With inputs from agencies)