Police say a bus carrying pilgrims plunged off a highway into a ravine in southern Italy after slamming into several cars, killing as many as 24 people, including the driver. Police fear the death toll will rise.


The Italian news agency ANSA quoted its photographer, Cesare Abbate, at the scene in a rural area near Avellino as saying he saw some 30 bodies covered by sheets near the bus after the crash Sunday night.


Highway police told state radio that the bus slammed into several cars which had slowed for heavy traffic before plunging off the highway and falling dozens of metres down the ravine.