The death toll in a tourist bus crash in the southwestern Turkish region of Antalya on Tuesday has risen to 17, the chief inspector of Russian traffic police said.
The incident occurred at 5:30 a.m. local time [02:30 GMT]. The bus was en route from the resort of Alanya to the town of Pamukkale when it veered off the road into the Aksu River 15 meters below. There were 39 residents of 11 Russian cities on the bus, as well as two Turkish citizens, both of whom died.
"Such tragedies show the necessity for taking up the joint traffic safety measures," Russia's Interior Ministry traffic department quoted Viktor Kiryanov as saying.
Police in Antalya have not specified the cause of the accident, but media reports said initial investigations suggested the driver had fallen asleep at the wheel.
MOSCOW, may 25 (RIA Novosti)