'Multiple deaths' and 17 unaccounted for as bus bursts into flames in German traffic jam smash

Bus crashes into truck and catches fire on A9 near Muenchberg in Bavaria

A coach went up in flames after it crashed into a truck Monday morning in southern Germany, injuring 31 people and leaving 17 others to be accounted for, police said.

Police have since confirmed there were "multiple" fatalities in the incident near Muenchberg in Bavaria on the Czech border.

Two drivers and 46 people and were on the bus, including a group of tourists from Saxony, police spokeswoman Irene Brandenstein said.

"We're afraid that people may have died in the accident," Brandenstein said.

German news channel n-tv showed footage of the bus, which was burned down to a black, smoking skeleton.

Helicopters and ambulances were on the scene to rescue the injured and the A9 highway was closed in both directions because of the accident.

Brandenstein said the bus crashed into the truck at the end of a traffic jam.

She had no information immediately about what happened to the truck driver.

Oberfranken police tweeted that family members could call a special number for further information on the accident: 0800/7766350.

Associated Press