PORT-AU-PRINCE – Dozens of people died when a bus was swept away by a river in the southern Haitian department of Grand Anse, officials said, adding that they could not provide an exact death toll.

The accident occurred on Monday when the bus driver tried to cross the Glace River, media reports said.

The bus, which was traveling from Jeremie to Port-au-Prince, was carrying about 60 people.

The river was swollen and passengers warned the driver not to cross the waterway, but he ignored the warnings and the vehicle was tipped over and swept away by the current.

Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe released a statement on the accident, expressing his condolences to the people of Grand Anse and the families of the victims. EFE