12 killed in highway pileup in China

Beijing: At least 12 people were killed and three badly injured on Saturday in a fatal six-vehicle pileup on a major highway in southern China, the latest road accident in the country.

The multi-vehicle collision occurred early today on the Yuegan Expressway, which links Guangdong's Heyuan City and Jiangxi's Ganzhou City.

The accident happened when a truck loaded with wood rolled over due to faulty brakes, triggering a collision with three other trucks, a mini bus and a car.

The other five vehicles caught fire after the collision.

The injured people have been hospitalised, state-run Xinhua news agency reported citing local authorities.

They said traffic on the major highway would be resumed soon.

Road accidents, often because of dangerous driving and a disregard for traffic rules, are a major problem in China.

According to the World Health Organisation, China has the second-most annual traffic fatalities after India.

In July, at least 38 people were killed when a van carrying inflammable liquid hit a bus on a highway in central China.

While in June 2013, more than 40 people were killed in a blaze in a bus in eastern China.