On May 12, an accident involving a passenger bus occurred in the Zhambyl region, an official representative of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry said. There were 53 passengers, including 47 Uzbekistan nationals in the bus, which was heading to Almaty.
As a result of the accident, 2 Uzbeks died, another 16 citizens are in the regional hospital, including 2 in the intensive care unit, the statement added. According to Kazakh media, an assistant driver and a passenger on the bus, which was registered in Uzbekistan, died on the spot.
Headquarters has been set up at the Consulate General of Uzbekistan in Almaty to organize assistance to the victims. Diplomats went to the scene of the incident.
According to provisional data, the accident occurred due to worsening weather conditions (rain and hail), "the driver lost control of the steering and collided with a tractor trailer moving in the same direction."
On this fact, a pre-trial investigation has been launched under the Violation by a person driving a vehicle of traffic rules or operation of vehicles, resulting in the death of two or more persons through negligence of the the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, Kazinform said.
