Five killed, 21 injured in Moscow bus accident

Moscow: Five people were killed and 21 were injured in a bus accident south of Moscow in the early hours of Sunday, reports citing Russian authorities said. 

Russia's Federal Road Traffic Inspection agency said the accident took place at around 5:45 am local time in the Ryazan region. 

"As a result of the accident, five people died, 21 were injured," the agency said, adding that two of the injured were under-age. 

It said the injuries were of "various severity".  

The agency said the bus could have hit a pillar by a railroad bridge. 

Reportedly, the accident took place on a highway near the village of Voslebovo around 270 kilometres (170 miles) south of Moscow.

There were 49 passengers onboard, according to authorities. 

Police said it had opened a criminal case on violations of traffic rules.