Eighteen people are believed to have died when their tour bus crashed and burst into flames on the A9 motorway in southern Germany, police say.

The bus was in a collision with a lorry near Stammbach in north Bavaria, reports the BBC.

Thirty people escaped the fire, two of whom are critically hurt. The bus was carrying German pensioners from Saxony.

Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann said rescuers were delayed by “gawpers” driving slowly and by the intensity of the blaze.

It is not clear why the bus crashed - traffic was reportedly moving slowly at the time. Nor is it clear why flames engulfed the whole bus so quickly.

There were 46 passengers and two drivers on the bus. One driver was among those killed.

Forensic teams have recovered the charred remains of 11 people so far.

Five rescue helicopters joined emergency workers at the scene.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was distressed by the accident and expressed sympathy for the injured and bereaved relatives.

She thanked the rescuers for looking after people “in an appalling situation”.

A police spokesman told German news channel n-tv that there were good medical facilities in Bayreuth, not far from the scene.

BDST: 1910 HRS, JULY 3, 2017
AP