Five people have reportedly been killed after a passenger bus exploded in Russia's Republic of North Ossetia. At least thirteen are believed to be injured. An explosive device has been found in the back of the mangled bus, and authorities are not ruling out a terrorist attack.
Fire crews and investigators are working at the scene.
The bus was travelling from the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria in Russia's North Caucasus to North Ossetia.
The accident took place at 6.10 pm Moscow time (3.10 pm GMT) at a checkpoint near the village of Iran, which is right on the border between the two Russian republics.
There are contradicting reports about what caused the explosion.
One of the versions is that it could have been a terrorist act. According to some sources, parts of an explosive device were found on the side of the road.
The North Ossetian President, Taimuraz Mamsurov, is already on the scene. ( RT )