At least 22 migrant workers were killed in a collision in the United Arab Emirates when a gravel-filled truck with faulty brakes rammed a bus, according to reports.
The truck driver lost control of his vehicle, causing it to land on top of the bus and trap its passengers under the cargo of gravel, police said of Sunday's incident. The bus was carrying 46 passengers in total, director of Abu Dhabi traffic police said, quoted by WAM state news agency.
The 22 killed died instantly, he said, adding that the wounded were taken to Ali Ain hospitals, some of them by helicopter.
The World Health Organization data says that the per capita death toll on UAE roads is among the highest in the world. It is speculated that besides faulty brakes, the driver of the gravel truck probably did not give enough space between vehicles. The 22 killed in the collision died instantly, while the wounded were flown to Ali Ain by helicopters.
The UAE, which has a total population of more than eight million, is host to millions of foreign workers, mostly from South Asia.
