At least 23 people were killed when a minibus plunged from a mountain road into a river in a remote area of Pakistan-administered Kashmir late on Friday, reports The Guardian.

The accident took place at Nausehri, 45km north of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, when the minibus driver lost control.

The vehicle veered off a road, falling 100 metres into the river, local government and rescue officials said.

“More than 23 people were killed and three others wounded in the bus accident,” local government official Ashfaq Gilani said.

“We have only found three bodies and three wounded people. More than 20 other passengers and the wreckage of the bus have been swept away by the river,” he added.

“We have presumed them dead as there is no chance of their survival,” Gilani said.

Pakistan has one of the world’s worst records for fatal traffic accidents, blamed on poor roads, badly maintained vehicles and reckless driving.