Bus fire kills 52 people in Kazakhstan

A bus fire in Kazakhstan killed 52 people yesterday in a vast snow-covered steppe.

The tragedy happened near the village of Kalybai in the northern Aktobe region. Authorities said only five of 57 people on the bus managed to escape the blaze. The survivors are being treated for injuries.

Officials said according to preliminary information, all the victims were citizens of neighbouring Uzbekistan. Of the survivors, two are citizens of Kazakhstan, who were taking turns to drive the bus and three others are from Uzbekistan. Investigators suspect the fire was triggered by a short circuit.