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Death toll from Ecuador road accident climbs to 14

Xinhua, December 10, 2016 Adjust font size:

The death toll from a road accident in a highway near Quito on Thursday has risen to 14, according to official reports on Friday.

Quito's general secretary of security, Juan Zapata, announced the casualties on Twitter early Friday and added that rescue teams are continuing their work on site.

The accident happened on Thursday afternoon when an interprovincial bus travelling between Tulcan and Quito fell down a 60m slope, north of the capital.

The bus had left Tulcan in the morning with 30 people on board and the reason for the crash are still unknown.

After the accident was reported, first aid workers arrived on the scene with the Quito fire brigade with 30 firemen and 10 vehicles.

Road accidents are among the leading causes of death in Ecuador, mainly due to reckless driving habits, such as speeding, not respecting traffic signs, or driving under the influence.

In 2015, 35,701 road accidents were reported in the country, leaving 2,138 people dead, according to the National Transport Agency. Enditem