U.S. confirms multiple deaths of American citizens in Mexico bus crash

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of multiple U.S. citizens in a bus crash in Mexico.

"We can confirm the deaths of multiple U.S. citizens in Mexico bus accident, and several injuries," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert tweeted Wednesday morning.

The U.S. government is in contact with local authorities and will continue to monitor the situation, Nauert added.

A tour bus flipped over in southeast Mexico on Tuesday, causing at least 12 deaths, including a minor, according to local authorities.

The accident took place at 10 a.m. local time (1600 GMT) while traveling along Mexico's Caribbean coast, near the resort of Mahahual, in the state of Quintana Roo.

There were a total of 31 people on board, most of them coming ashore from Royal Caribbean cruise ships. Enditem