Tourist bus crash - 24 dead

A bus carrying Russian visitors has plunged into a ravine in southern Israel, killing at least 24 people. It is believed that more than 50 passengers were on the bus when it came off a desert road and rolled down a steep slope near the Red Sea resort of Eilat. Several of those hurt were said to be in a serious condition. The group had only just arrived and were being transported to Eilat from Ovda airport in the Negev desert. The group had come from the Russian city of St Petersburg. Local media reports said they were travel agents from the city on a trip to survey the Red Sea resort.