At least 13 people, including nine Chinese, were killed Wednesday in the explosion, of still unknown origin, of a bus that then poured into a ravine in northwest Pakistan, we learned. from administrative and police sources.
The vehicle was carrying Chinese engineers, surveyors and mechanical maintenance personnel working on the construction of the Dasu Dam in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
"
The explosion set the engine on fire, dragging the vehicle into the ravine
" and killing 13 people, including nine Chinese, a senior local administrative official told AFP on condition of anonymity. 28 Chinese were also injured.
Reinforced security
A local police source, who asked not to be identified, confirmed the accident, caused by "
a strong explosion (whose) nature is not yet known
."
"
A certain project of a Chinese company in Pakistan suffered an attack, which caused the death of Chinese citizens
," the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan said in a statement Wednesday, calling on all Chinese companies in the country to strengthen their security measures.
The safety of Chinese employees working on various infrastructure projects in Pakistan has long been a concern for Beijing, which has invested billions of dollars in the country in recent years.