Bus catches fire in Columbia, 16 children dead

Bogota: At least 16 children were burnt to death when their bus caught fire, said authorities, adding that the toll was expected to rise, reported police chief Adan Leon.According to Leon, 14 children had been rescued, but were suffering various degrees of injuries. They were being treated at nearby hospitals, he said.[caption id="attachment_1533493" align="alignleft" width="380"] Image used for representational purpose. Agencies[/caption]According to witnesses, people were boarding the bus when the fire started," said Leon. Authorities will conduct further investigations to determine the causes of the tragedy, he said.Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos expressed his condolences on his Twitter account."We deeply regret the accident occurred in Fundacion, Magdalena, where at least 15 people have been killed according to the latest information," the head of state tweeted right after the disaster.Meanwhile, Bogota's daily El Tiempo said 31 children have been killed in the accident, but this number has not been officially confirmed.IANS