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At least 21 people have been killed in a road accident in central Mexico, according to a local official.<\/p>\n
The three-vehicle crash happened on the highway between Cuacnopalan and Oaxaca in Puebla state on Wednesday morning, said Samuel Aguilar Pala, a local government official.<\/p>\n
Mr Pala said 18 people died at the scene and another three died later in hospital.<\/p>\n
Several others were injured and are receiving medical attention, he wrote on X.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
According to local media, the crash involved a tanker truck, a bus and a van.<\/p>\n
Mexican newspaper La Jornada reports that the crash took place when a cement truck attempted to overtake a van.<\/p>\n
When crossing into the opposite lane, the truck hit a bus and then collided with a transport van head-on before tumbling into the ravine below and bursting into flames, La Jornada said.<\/p>\n
Video shared by a local journalist on social media shows a large cloud of dark smoke rising from the ravine and a long portion of road railing torn away. This video has not been verified by the BBC.<\/p>\n
There have been several severe accidents on highways in Mexico in recent years. <\/p>\n
In February, dozens of people died in a bus crash in Tabasco<\/a> in southern Mexico. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n