At least 26 tourists dead’ after coach smashes into airport guardrail and explodes into flames

At least 26 people are dead after a tourist bus smashed into a motorway guardrail in Taiwan and exploded into flames, it is reported.

The vehicle was travelling along an airport expressway in the island’s Taoyuan region when it crashed into the railing and caught fire .

Everyone onboard died, including at least 24 holidaymakers, the driver and the tour guide, according to Chinese media and officials.

Dramatic photos of the scene show the bus parked at the side of the expressway, surrounded by raging flames and thick black smoke.

#UPDATE At least 20 people killed after a tour bus caught fire near #Taiwan Taoyuan Int'l Airport Tuesday noon pic.twitter.com/h3WtKCk3bw

— People's Daily,China (@PDChina) July 19, 2016

The tourists who died were on an eight-day tour organised by a travel agency in China’s northeastern province of Liaoning, officials said.

The bus was travelling to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at around 1pm local time (6am UK time) when it crashed, it is reported.

A tourist bus catches fire after hiting guardrail of an airport expressway at Taoyuan, #Taiwan; 26 deaths reported pic.twitter.com/0fcdVfNvoB

— Global Times (@globaltimesnews) July 19, 2016